I have been excited to write about Welcome Robin for awhile now. In part because Robins have been a part of our bird journey since we arrived in the US as a family in May of 2020. They were the birds that we loved to watch and that we learned about first when we were getting used to being in a new culture together. Admittedly, I find English Robins to be much cuter, and want to travel back to England in order to see them again. When it comes to American Robins, I had no idea until that summer that the short pause Robins take as they are hopping around the grass is in order to listen for worms and insects. We learned that together by reading “The Handbook of Nature Study” by Anna Botsford Comstock. She writes:
A robin can run or hop as pleases him best, and it is interesting to see one, while hunting earthworms, run a little distance, then stop to bend the head and listen for his prey, and when he finally seizes the earthworm he braces himself on his strong legs and tugs manfully until he sometimes almost falls over backward as the worm lets go its hold. The robins, especially at nesting time, eat many insects as well as earthworms.
Comstock, The Handbook of Nature Study, Living Books Press edition of Birds, p. 64-65
Now, robins come daily to our large backyard for their daily hunt for food. When we bought our house, we realized that it’s reddish color reminded us of an American Robin. So, of course, we had to name our house “Robin Redbreast”.
Here is what we gathered about Welcome:
We can’t wait to see what happens throughout the year as we observe our best mates here.
Until next time, keep birding! <3 Kate
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