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February 04, 1999 - Spotting the first robin of ... winter6A • The Suffolk Times • February 4, 1999 Spotting the first robin of ... winter? Robins, robins everywhere. Or so it seems from the telephone calls I've been getting lately. Everyone wants to know why we are seeing so many robins this winter. After all, "Aren't robins supposed to go south during the winter and only come back in the spring ?" Well, yes and no. Usually most robins do go south but our records show through our Christmas Bird Counts that a few always seem to Focus hang around through the win- ON ter. Being, among NATURE other things, fruit eaters, they'll by Paul exist on the Stoutenburgh berries of holly, pyracantha, rose hips, Russian olive, honeysuckle, catbrier and just about any other berry that hangs on through the cold of winter. But why so many this year? People are seeing flocks of robins in every cor- ner of our East End. It could be the mild winter of last year made survivors of some and they in turn have passed on this gene of survival to their off- spring, who are now wintering over. A more logical explanation would be that the present mild winter lured the robins to stay and enjoy the winter as we have. It's anyone's guess. I looked up in Bull's "Birds of New York State" (the authority) on the sighting of robins and I quote: "Robins are rare to uncommon in winter, occa- sionally numerous." I went on to read further and he backed up his statement with one of his records listing 500 "1'm friendly and independent. I'm the only cat at the shelter who's indoor /outdoor." MAX 3- year -old male shepherd mix "1'm shy but sweet Come down and lets go fora walk" JILL 2-year-old female Lab mix "I went home once and the other dog didnIllke, me will you le" MAPLE I 112-year-old female terrier mix y s'ii "I love attention and y�b a +P walks on a leash; I'm a champion fence jumper." VOLUNTEERS NFAWL THRIFT SHOP "A Cause for Paws" Southold Animal Shelter PECONIC LANE, PECONIC 765 -1811 North Fork Animal Welfare League robins seen in 1968 on the Nassau County Christmas Bird Count. So it seems there are years when robins are plentiful. Don't worry, they'll make out just fine, for if there are berries about they are sure to find them. Robins are members of the thrush family and they show this relation- ship in their juvenile years, when they have spotted breasts, as most members of the thrush family do, before they take on the familiar red breast of the adult robin. Most true thrushes carry these spotted breasts throughout their adult life. Another characteris- tic a robin has similar to its cousin, the thrush, is its song. Most thrushes are noted for their beautiful song and likewise the robins brings us his rap- tures of melody each spring as he sings from his perch high above. Once a woodland dweller, the robin now has become a common back -yard resi- dent, living everywhere from under your porch eaves to your garden evergreen. The robin has truly become a suburban dweller while most of the thrush family still prefer the deep woods to call their home, away from people. Our first bird eggs are laid. Once the eggs hatch, the vigorous job of feeding is shared by both parents. When the young are fledged, a second nest is built and the whole process of raising the young is repeated. It's during nesting time the along or through a particular area. The number of boxes put up is limited only by the time and energy of the group or individual; some string out across the countryside in 30 or 40 houses and oth- ers are a more modest five or 10. Whenever possible the boxes are made with opening tops so the con- tents can be viewed. This helps when some unwant- ed nester such as a house sparrow moves in to take over. Suffolk Times photo by Aichie Anderson Why have we seen so many robins this winter? Usually most spend the winter in Georgia, Florida or west to Texas. When they do stay up north they live on winter berries of all sorts. Here pyracantha berries are the meal of the day. Of all birds the robin probably is the first bird we knew by name. It's the bird we all came to know by watching it stalk for earthworms on our front lawns. We all wondered how it knew a worm was below as it stood with its head cocked to one side over its next meal. To this day the controversy goes on. Does the robin find the worm by listening for it or is it his eyesight that brings the worm into view? Or perhaps it is neither of these, as some say; they maintain it has the ability to sense through touching the ground that there is a worm below. I'm afraid that's a question only the robin can answer. Our robin is the only member of the thrush family to use mud in its nest. Once the reinforced nest has dried, four beautifully delicate, light -blue parents become fierce defenders of their nest. They will dive -bomb your pet cat should it stray near the nest, or put up a gallant fight should a crow or other marauder come by to steal the precious eggs. I've often been sharply scolded by a parent bird when I unknowingly walked close to its nest. Once off the nest, the bird will scold from a distance until the threat has gone away, then it will sneak back and once again settle down on its precious eggs. Bluebirds, by the way, are members of the thrush family, too, and the only member that nests in holes in trees or bird boxes. This trait of the bluebird to build its nest in boxes has led to what is commonly called bluebird trails, which are projects of erecting bluebird boxes Why wait? If the IRS owes you money, you'll get your refund in half the time it usually takes. With IRS a -file, we can file your return electronically from our computer to the IRS. It's simple, secure and the fastest way to file. And there's quick proof from the IRS that your return has been accepted. We're an "Authorized IRS a -file Provider." Call today to find out more about IRS a -file. V A =10 Brisotti & Lemonda i "RS Main Road, Mattituck • 298 -8918 (Across from Handy Pantry) p'°�rtl•� On the road again You won't believe this but this article is being written on our way south. We left in the usual confu- sion of bags of clothes, boxes of books and car- tons of foodstuff all just put in the camper for later sorting when we could find the time. To add to the inconvenience we had previously pulled, and I do mean pulled, the camper out of the pasture because of the rains and mud. If left there any longer, we never would have gotten it out. We had the pickup attached to the camper and my tractor pulling the pickup. At any rate we got it out, a bit mud- splat- tered, and started loading. We were off at 4 a.m. in hopes of missing the city traffic. Campers have to take the truck route — no parkways to make easy traveling for them. All went well until we crossed the George Washington Bridge. Then as we came out of the gloom of the overhead a huge tractor trailer brushed our side and rumbled on. Later we found a dent where its mirror hit us and ripped our awning. Just some of the casualties of going through New York traffic. Our first night was spent in Carlisle, Pa., where we were able to relax for a while after our early- morning depar- ture. The next day, crossing through Maryland, West Virginia and finally into Virginia six hours later, found us at Fox Trail Family Campground at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway on I -77. We planned to stop here to see Bob White and his wife, Kris, who run the camp. Years ago Bob was a student of mine and I wanted to see how he was doing. At first he didn't recognize me but then as memories unfolded we were soon back in yesteryear. I chuck- led when I went to pay for our site. "No way," Bob said, "after all the trou- ble I caused you in school, this is on me!" And so, here we are in the beau- tiful Fox Trail Family Campground at 3,000 -foot elevation, enjoying the warm hospitality of Bob and his family. If there is a success story for a local boy making good, here's proof posi- tive. In teaching, you never really know how the multitude of students who pass through your classes even- tually make out, but every once in a while you have that rare privilege of meeting one of them and seeing first- hand their accomplishments. When it happens, it makes you feel good. Tomorrow we head south again, hope- fully to Charleston, S.C.