The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

In early spring the symphonious melodies of the male American robin (Turdus Migratorius) are heard over the entire U.S.

They begin mating in April and can produce up three broods by the end of July. The female builds the cup-shaped nest with grass, twigs, and feathers and a coating of mud for stability. Occasionally the male will assist in the gathering of materials. The nest is built in many places including drainpipes, in wreaths on doors, window ledges, and of course trees.

The female incubates 2-5 light blue eggs for two weeks and the chicks are fed by the male and female for two weeks before they leave the nest. Worms, grubs, berries and caterpillars are the mainstays of their diet.

As fall begins the robins gather in large flocks to feast on many varieties of fruit. Juniper berries are a favorite food in Central Oregon with elderberries, hawthorn, honeysuckle, and dogwood berries stripped from the trees. The robins can get inebriated from the fermentation of older

fruit.

The American robin is a member of the thrush family, which includes bluebirds. It was named after the European robin, which has a similar reddish breast. A group of robins is called a "round" or a "flock."

For more American

robin photos visit http://abirdsingsbecauseithasasong.com/recent-journeys.