So, what did the Junco say to the Robin? (this is for North America Catters.) "What you doin', still here!"

In the northern part of the U.S., the first Robin is considered a sign of Spring. (The American Robin isn't anything like the English robin, by the way.) The Robin has even been immortalized in song "When the red, red Robin comes bob bob bobbin' along." The Junco is a northern North America bird and migrates south as winter approaches. That's given the Junco the nickname,
"Snow Bird." Anne Murray had a hit song about a Snowbird (She's Canadian..)

Check out time for the Robins is about now, and they're gathering in flocks, here in Connecticut, preparing for their flight south. Yesterday, I saw some newly arrived Juncos feeding on the same lawn as a flock of Robins, and I wondered what their conversation would be like.

Next Spring, the Robins will be back... usually before the last snow fall. You'll see them shivering in the hedge rows, looking for an overlooked barberry. Robins eat worms, and there aren't many worms avaiable, with snow on the ground. The Juncos haven't left yet, so there is another conversation that goes on in the Spring.

When both birds are around, you can expect just about any kind of weather. We haven't had any snow yet, and probably won't for awhile. But, when I see snowbirds at the feeder, I know it's not far away.

How you people doing up there in Maine? You must have seen the snow birds weeks ago, as they work their way down from Canada.

Just remember, everywhere is south of something.

Except for the South pole.

Jerry