American Robin Morning Surprises

This morning we were surprised with a backyard full of birds.

It was not just a flock of Grackles or Starlings, though we had a few of those visit us today too.  It was mainly about twenty plus Robins.

American Robins are in our yard year round.  They have made homes here in our bushes that surround our property.  Usually we see about two to four of these birds in our yard year round, never this many at one time.  It was the most unusual and special thing we have seen this year in our backyard bird watching.

We had had a lot of rain the previous night so water was standing in our yard making perfect puddles for them from which to drink, play, or bathe.  They were also flying back and forth from our holly bushes, packed full of red berries, to the puddles.  Eating the red berries then taking a break for a little drink..... we loved every minute!

 At one point we had to chuckle because an hour would go by after our first discovery of them and they were still there by the puddles.  Then another hour.... they were still there.  Almost like people hanging around the water cooler.  The Robins were "hanging around" the water puddles.  They would take turns taking a bath and splashing in the water.  I once again took way too many photos to ensure I snapped a few good ones.  Having to take photos from our dining room window was a challenge.  I wished I had had a zoom lens I could attach to my camera.  I did the best I could.  The birds moved pretty quickly and it was harder to photograph them than I thought.


Just when we would try to sit down and start a subject of academics, I would notice something else, or Joseph would notice something else and we were captivated once again.  It was one of those mornings where you take advantage of the "moment" because you can and it's special.  You slow down and enjoy life's little gifts.


Some Robins were just outside our dining room window, usually two to four at a time exploring the standing water between our house and our neighbors' fence.  I usually don't like standing water in our yard, but I was happy that it was there today, because the robins enjoyed themselves so much.

 What an interesting morning.


What a special morning.  


Who would have thought we would have woken up to such a family of birds?  By 3:00pm after finishing our other academics for the day, the Robins were all gone.  I don't know if they will be back again in this number or if we'll see what we saw this morning again.

So beautiful...

What was so great and enriching about today was that we had already read about the American Robin in The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess.  This children's book was written in 1919 and is the tale of Peter Rabbit in the old orchard and his interactions with the variety of birds that frequent there.  Children learn so much about birds just through the conversations between Peter and the various birds.  I read this to Joseph when he was in first grade and now Philip and I are reading it together.  It is what Charlotte Mason would call a "living book".  A book that shows real life through telling a story. It is easier to remember a story you read than a list of facts, which is why we use living books in our home schooling.

Right after we had learned about the American Robin in the Burgess book, Philip and I went to our field guides to find more interesting facts.  These are the field guides we enjoy using the most for bird watching in North Carolina.  Joseph and I had already studied about the Robin years earlier, so it was nice to have him share facts he already knew with his little brother.


Every single bird we have found in our backyard has been found in this little field guide, and the others listed below.


All About North Carolina Birds   By Fred J Alsop III   Look for it at your local library.  


National Audubon Society North America Bird Feeder Guide   By Robert Burton and Stephen W. Kress
Published by DK Publishing.  It has beautiful photos and is full of information on how to attract birds to your very own backyard.


Bird Songs 250 North American Birds in Song  By Les Beletsky
It is a beautiful book of illustrations with bird songs for each bird in this volume.  We use it frequently when wanting to know the various bird songs of birds we see or are curious about.  I originally bought this book as a bargain book.  Since its publication, another book has come out that is probably more appropriate for back yard bird watching in North Carolina:


Backyard Birdsong Guide of Eastern and Central North America  By Donald Kroodsma


Our favorite website for ornithology is Cornell's website, "All About Birds".  
It has EVERYTHING!  
Bird songs, photos, facts, video and more.  

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478&ac=ac

 

Learn about the American Robin on the Cornell website here.


We were certainly wowed today and enjoyed some family time pondering a favorite back yard bird.


I'll close with a photos of our nature study bird project for this year for second grade.  Joseph did the same thing as a first and second grader.  Philip is making his own back yard bird book.  Guess what the last bird recorded in it was two weeks ago?


 The American Robin!


I smile and I say, "Thanks Lord, for caring about all of those details in our home schooling."  I certainly didn't plan this bird encounter today.  God never ceases to amaze me how he weaves our learning in books with real life learning through his creation.  Little things like this happen all of the time.  I am forever grateful!  WE didn't know we'd see a "Robin party" as Joseph called it, in our back yard this morning, like we had never seen before, but God allowed us to see it and be there in those moments!  What a nice little gift!

Update!  This morning they are back in numbers of over 40!  All having breakfast in our holly bushes and hanging out in our two Willow Oak Trees.  The puddles are gone this morning.  The ground has soaked in that rain water, but it is really cool to see this number of American Robins in our yard.