Soon more robins will follow, and other migrating birds will start to arrive at our mid latitude sites. Many of us human types will record our “first sightings” of a common bird as our spring weather begins its relentless advances against winter.

The American Robin, scientifically named Turdus migratorius, is in the biological order known as Passeriformes. Thus the common name by biologists for songbird types of many species is to just call them Passerines. The family name is Turdidae.

Even small children can quickly adapt to learning the identification elements that tell them this bird is called a robin. A bright orange chest and gray back help fill out two criteria. A yellow beak and very dard to black feathered head round out details. The eye is surrounded by a white ring.

Habitat requirements are flexible as this species is common throughout the continent. They can be found in open fields, lawns, city parks, and wild places like forests, arctic tundra, or stream side woodlands.

Here is where they find a diversity of food sources, most notable are earthworms and fruits on bushes or trees. Invertebrates are another food type they like. Insects rate high and small snails.

Documentations have been made that they will eat shrews, a small mammal species, small snakes and aquatic insects. Fruits of chokecherry, hawthorn, dogwood, juniper and sumac are on the menu.

Once robins arrive in sufficient numbers, establishing territories and getting on with the business of new nest building for a new year will take top priority. Robins will use trees and bushes to secure a grass and mud lined cup shaped bowl for a nest.

When those trees and bushes leaf out with the advancement of spring, the nest may become hard to detect. Nests are also common under house roof overhangs, and even in boxes built by people that are strategically placed around one’s home. Nests are built from the inside out, by accumulating grasses and twigs, then pressing these components into a cup shape.

The final nest is glued together with soft mud gathered from worm castings or mud puddles, and then pressed into the cup. When the mud dries, the nest is quite sturdy.

Robins can have as many as three broods during the course of spring and summer seasons. Researchers have tried to untangle success rates of robins and have found that about 40 percent of nests produce young, and then only 25 percent of hatchlings survive until November. From that point onward, about one-half of live robins will still be alive into the next year. A lucky robin may live to 14 years old.

We may have all seen at a distance a robin eagerly tugging and pulling on an earthworm to dislodge it from its soil burrow. Robins are good at hearing a worm moving just below the ground line.

It will wait patiently for the right time to strike with its bill, clamping down on the worm, and holding on tight for the tug-of-war between a predator and its prey that has just begun. It is fun to watch. It is very difficult however to get a professional camera image of robin/worm battles.

With all the factors that small birds have to endure and overcome to survive, robins are numerous and widespread. Populations are stable or increasing. The North American Breeding Bird survey estimates the continental population at 310 million.

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Winter bird feeding tips and tricks that help keep and maintain food sources for a variety of migrating feathered creatures soon to arrive. Resident birds like chickadees, cardinals and bluejays will always be here. Other species may be more unpredictable, like the red-breasted nuthatch, redpolls, pine siskins, crossbills or pine grosbeaks if they wander off course from normal food pathways.

A variety of seed sizes and types should be offered and cut back or added as needs dictate. Black oil sunflower seeds remain at about 80 to 90 percent of feeding choices. Add stripped sunflower, peanuts, shelled corn or cardinal mixes that have sunflower, safflower and peanuts. Cracked corn is common but also attracts house sparrows and starlings. There is no magic mix that will attract only the birds you wish to watch. Give and take rules the day.

Millet seeds will be used by dark-eyed juncos, mourning doves, and the American tree sparrow, fox, Harris’, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows. Decrease millet usage to only a small 10 percent mix as fall season approaches.

Niger seeds and thistle seeds work for goldfinches, common and hoary redpolls, house and purple finches and pine siskins. Suet cakes are a staple for the high energy this mix of seeds and processes animal fats bring to a feeding station.

Starlings can be discouraged by suet feeder designs that force starlings to gain access by hanging upside down. It will help but not prevent.

Water is always a good thing. Keep the water pans clean and add fresh water daily. Cold winter air temps will freeze the water. Bird stores do have heating elements to use to keep water open in most cold weather conditions.

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Later this month we can expect the return of all the species of waterfowl. Hawks will return during March with Broadwings, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, Rough-legged and Marsh.

Little birds like bluebirds can appear any time now. Meadowlarks may make appearances, and I have already observed my “first” red-winged blackbird.

Good times in the world of nature awakening to a new spring season are arriving fast. Good.

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A big bird for hunters is the Eastern Wild Turkey. This species is common and well distributed within woodland corridors and tributaries and some associated uplands. Licenses to hunt wild turkey can be purchased now for either bow only or gun/bow combinations.

The season dates begin for 2025 on April 11-13 for youth only, then are followed by dates of April 14-17, 18-22, 23-29 and lastly April 30-May 18. Archery only licenses are valid from April 14-May 18.

Limits are one bearded or male wild turkey for each license. Resident archers may purchase two turkey tags. A combination gun/bow licenses of two can be bought as long as one of the time frames is for season 4.

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A reminder that the IOWA DEER CLASSIC show is taking place this weekend in Des Moines at the convention buildings complex downtown. The event opened Friday.

Hours this weekend on Saturday are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This show is all about deer and many other outdoor adventures. The program also includes displays of Hall of Fame deer and a contest every year for big antlered deer.

The contest will show the best two, three or four bucks in a series of categories for youth, adults, men or women, for deer taken with firearms, bow, crossbow or shotgun. It is amazing to see the complexity and variety of antler growth that Iowa deer can produce.

Another very good display is for antlers found after they have dropped off of wild deer. This is called the ‘shed’ antler display with its own well presented display of single or set antlers found by people.

The deer that shed these bone growths are still alive to grow new sets of antlers during 2025.

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Congratulations are offered to South Tama County School district archers who won prizes at last weekend’s National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) shoot off contest. Ava Boldt won the girls bullseye competition with a score of 295 out of 300 possible.

In another category of High All-around 3/D Bullseye, Ava scored 587 out of 600, and she helped her female team score a combination of events to make 883 points out of 900.

She received a scholarship of $1,500 and a new Genesis bow. Another South Tama archer was Timm Chandonia, who helped his boys team gather in a score of 878 out of 900.

Nearly 4,900 archers participated in Iowa’s NASP after school leagues from Dec. 1, 2024 to Feb. 9, 2025. Sponsors for this school archery event are the National Archery in the Schools Program, Iowa Hunter Education Instructor Association, Iowa Bowhunters Association, Chuck ‘Coach’ Hallier Memorial Fund, Haney Family Foundation, Whitetails Unlimited, Safari Club International, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever.

Archery in the Schools Program allows everyone to compete regardless of individual circumstances. Everyone becomes more disciplined and focused on the basics of archery target shooting and seeks their own rewards of inspiration in the process.

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Garry Brandenburg is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology.

Contact him at:

P.O. Box 96

Albion, IA 50005