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WHY AREN'T ROBINS MIGRATING SOUTH?
QUESTION
This fall, there is a robin at our birdbath in New Jersey. Why isn't it migrating South?
ANSWER
Robins may or may not migrate South from New Jersey in winter. Look in a field guide and you will see that the American Robin’s winter range includes New Jersey. Some robins may stay in the northern areas of their wintering range throughout the winter and some may leave. Often it depends on whether the winter is mild or severe. If it is mild, and there are still berries on the trees for the robins to eat, and the ground is unfrozen so they may be able to find worms, then the robins may stay in that area. If it gets very cold and the food resources are depleted, then robins, often in large flocks, will move to the southern portions of their wintering range.
Nice of you to have a birdbath, because robins and other wintering birds always need water. If the temperatures drop you can add a birdbath heater to keep the water from freezing.
The robins will return in the spring.
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