Just outside the window behind me is a cacophony of sound. Maybe you’ve noticed, or maybe you haven’t. But either way, central Florida’s experiencing quite a boom in robins around a lot of neighborhoods. That’s why today we’ll discuss a few basics of the Florida robin migration, and whether or not it should be of any concern to you.
Will the Florida Robin Migration damage my home as they move through?
The American Robin is a thrush-sized bird that feeds mostly on the ground. They eat fruit, insects, earthworms, and snails. They don’t attack people, they don’t chase pets, and they don’t usually nest in homes. In fact, these are some of the more skittish birds I’ve run into at home, with them tending to run at the first sign of me. Sure they’ll fly around the trees and have a grand old time, but it’s not like the blue jays or cardinals that’ll pick at the ground nearly around my feet. Nope, they mostly keep to themselves.
Short answer and long answer are both simply no. These aren’t like house sparrows or pigeons. These are entirely wild birds that will cause no damage to your home or property and are honestly pretty pleasing to look at and listen to throughout the day. But, you’ll mostly find them out in the morning.
What is the Florida Robin Migration?
American Robins are common winter visitors to Florida. Between October and April, you can hear their characteristic chattering vocalizations as they gather in flocks around fruit trees and along roadsides. In spring, most robins migrate north to breed, but a few have recently begun to nest in north and central Florida.
Unlike long-distance migrants and many hummingbirds, which head south en masse during the fall, robins react to winter’s onset in two ways.
Many retreat southward. Northern Canada empties of robins, while areas far to the south like Texas and Florida receive large winter flocks. But those making the journey are not lured by warmer temperatures: Robins can withstand extremely cold temperatures, adding warm, downy feathers to their plumage. The real motivation is food, or rather the lack of it. As their warm-weather diet of earthworms and insects wanes, robins begin searching for fresh supplies.
But declining invertebrate numbers aren’t a problem for all robins — and a good number stay up north, which is the second way robins react to winter. They have been observed in every U.S. state (except Hawai’i) and all southern Canadian provinces in January. They’re able to remain thanks to several important adaptations.
First, they change their diet. They transitioning from protein-rich invertebrates to vitamin-rich winter fruits and berries, including junipers, hollies, crabapples, and hawthorns.
They also begin moving. In the spring and summer, robins aggressively defend their territories and raise young. In the winter, they become nomadic, searching widely for their favorite cold-weather fare. Weather also influences robin movements. A heavy snowfall that persists for more than a few days may send them on their way, searching for better conditions.
Attracting robins to your yard.
The best part of the Florida Robin migration is, in my opinion, sitting and watching them as they move through the sunshine state. So here are a few ways you can attract them for a visual and audio display as they move through.
While it may be true that having a garden will automatically attract wildlife, it is best to install plants that will attract the kind of wildlife you want to see in your garden. To have greater success at attracting robins to your garden here are a few plants to consider. To start with, consider sunflowers. While a really bad cold snap may stunt them, they should still grow to a decent size and produce seeds if you plant them in the fall. These giant flowers attract seed-eating birds of all kinds.
In addition to planting edible berries and fruits, robins will also need access to plants that are able to provide shelter and protection. While these birds are known to nest in many different places, taller trees offer even more options during nesting season. If you are unable to plant trees in your location, nesting ledges (specifically for robins) are another great option for homeowners wishing to experience the nesting process. Remember, never disturb the robins’ nests.
Robins can become very protective and territorial of nests. It is best to place nesting ledges where they will not be bothered. Beyond nesting, robins will need protection from inclement weather, as well as from predators. In regions where the birds overwinter, evergreen trees and shrubs are extremely valuable in terms of protection from wind, cold, and even snowy conditions. Plants with heavy, thick foliage also help deter attacks from neighborhood cats and flying predators.
Then there’s the tried and true birdbath. These things are great for any garden and come in hundreds of styles. Get one, clean it regularly, and add a water wiggler of some sort to it to double your effect.
Conclusion
The Florida robin migration is more in response to food than temperature. So if you want them to come to your place, make sure to have a healthy, pesticide-free garden. The more robust and diverse food sources, the better it is for these birds. In fact, you may even get to hear them sing. And robin singing has a special meaning.
Robins sing when they arrive on their breeding territories. Sometimes robins even sing in winter flocks, due to surging hormones as the breeding season approaches. However, in the majority of cases, robins really do wait to sing until they have reached their territory.
American Robins are common winter visitors to Florida. Between October and April, you can hear their characteristic chattering vocalizations as they gather in flocks around fruit trees and along roadsides. In spring, most robins migrate north to breed, but a few have recently begun to nest in north and central Florida. This means that, provided you have enough shelter, bugs, and plants, they may even stick around.
