Large Flocks of Robins at Red Deer

       The past two days I have seen unusually large flocks of robins in my neighborhood. It's been cold and snowing for a week. Yesterday there were twenty robins in one tree, twelve in another and seven in another. This was seen from my yard. Who knows if I'd had time to walk through my neighborhood maybe I would have found a mother lode?

Photo by Judy Boyd

       I am used to seeing large flocks of robins in the fall as they are on they're way south. I don't ever remember seeing a large group like this in the spring. In the spring they usually come through as individuals. I am starting to wonder if they are held up here because of the snowy weather. On the other hand maybe I'm going to have lots of robin nests in my neighborhood this summer if summer ever gets here.

The RDRN bird focus group was treated to a flock of Hoary Redpoll on a farm near Caroline. While not as common as their cousins, the Common Redpoll, they do show up in mixed flocks. These were coming to a feeder provided by the landowner.

Good Talk on Boreal Birds

        Red Deer River Naturalists(RDRN) are featuring Dr. Erin Bayne on the topic of boreal birds Thursday, April 28 @7:30 pm.

       Dr. Bayne has done many years of research on boreal birds and has some interesting ideas. He has conducted research on behavioral, population and community responses of various wildlife species to landscape alteration.

     Find out what's happening to our boreal birds.