American Robin – DE

DSCF0750-001American robin – Turdus migratorius

Besides just loving the Robin’s scientific name, Robins are birds that I see frequently. I took these pictures in my backyard where we have several pairs that come and go throughout the year. They nest and seem to enjoy full and productive lives.

Having grown-up in South America, but having attended an American School, I was so amazed by several things that actually did happen in the United States. First, I had never actually seen the trees change colors in the fall. I was born in DSCF0752-001Texas and attended kindergarten in Houston. The leaves on trees in Texas turn brown and then fall off. The same was true for leaves and trees in Bolivia.

I was amused and convinced that my kindergarten teacher was crazy for making us color pictures of red and yellow leaves. What did I care? I was in kindergarten and I was coloring. Who cares if the teacher did not know a thing about what leaves actually did. When we moved to the North East, I was blown away by the fall. The leaves actually did change colors and fell off the tree.

The second thing was the saying about Robins being the harbinger of spring. I was amazed that Robins did, in fact, herald in the spring. I distinctly remember learning that Robins were the harbingers of spring in Bolivia. Again, we had a rainy season and a dry season but little else to call a spring. As far as I recall, there were no birds named Robin around anywhere in Bolivia.

So, here is my backyard Robin all puffed up from the cold, telling me that spring is on its way.