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| American Robin |
Unlike
up north, robins are here all year. There have been several reports lately of
large flocks of robins all over Denton County, several even in adjoining
counties. They are generally feeding on the ground, hopefully finding worms and
grubs near the soil’s surface. Often they pick a berry bush clean. Very
occasionally, robins visit feeders to sample seed, fruit and suet, according to
Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology.
They’ve been around here all winter, but are a little
easier to spot now since they’re gradually getting more orange. The robins from
up north spend the winter around here too, but their ranks will thin out as some of
them head back north with the spring warmth. The ones that stay around here are
just easier to spot due to their springtime activity such as flock feeding.
Bats are coming too! Not ‘til early spring,
which gives you time to get ready for their arrival. They weigh just about half-an-once, but
eat lots and lots of mosquitoes (about 3000 to 5000 a night) – and they’re
returning. They rid the nights of pesky bugs and avoid humans as much as
possible. They do both through “echo-location”, which is like radar, except faster.
Owen Yost,
in addition to blogging, is a Landscape Architect emeritus from here, who‘s
worked in north Texas for over 30 years.
He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA),
International Society of Landscape Architects, the National BirdFeeding
Society, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. He was honored
with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Native Plant Society of Texas. His
design office is at northwestern68@yahoo.com
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