by Roland D. Hallee

Just the other day a friend told me she thought robins went south for the winter. That is the common thought.

The American robin is a migratory songbird. While robins occasionally overwinter in the northern United States and southern Canada, most migrate to Florida and the Gulf Coast to central Mexico. Most will depart south by the beginning of September and begin their northern migration in February and March, which gives the illusion they don’t migrate during a regular winter, when snow covers the ground during those times.

Despite being depicted in the film Mary Poppins, in London, this species is actually a rare occasion to western Europe.

Robins breed in woodland and more open farmland and urban areas. It becomes less common as a breeder in the southernmost part of the deep south of the United States.

The sexes are similar but the female tends to be duller than the male, with a brown tint to the head, brown upperparts and less bright underparts. However, some birds cannot be safely sexed on plumage alone.

Robins are active mostly during the day. During the winter, they flock in large groups at night to roost in trees in swamps or dense vegetation. The flock breaks up during the day when the birds feed on fruits and berries in smaller groups. However, during the summer, the American robin defends a breeding territory and is less social.

The adult robin, however, must stay alert. It is preyed upon by hawks, cats, and larger snakes. Brown-headed cowbirds lay eggs in robin nests but robins usually reject the cowbird eggs. Juvenile robins and eggs are preyed upon by squirrels, snakes and some birds such as blue jays, common grackles, crows and ravens.

The robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin. It ranks behind only the red-winged blackbird as the most abundant bird species in North America, just ahead of the European starling.

American robins have an extensive range, estimated at 6.2 million square miles. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the bird as “least concern” when evaluating its position as a threatened species. At one point, the robins were hunted for their meat, but it is now protected throughout its range in the United States by the Migratory Bird Act.

The species was first described in 1766 by Carl Linnaeus in the 12th edition of his Systema Naturae. The term robin has been recorded since 1703.

Despite is wonderful song, the American robin is known to carry West Nile virus. While crows and jays are often the first noticed deaths in an area with West Nile virus, the American robin is suspected to be a key host, and holds a larger responsibility for the transmission of the virus to humans. This is because, while crows and blue jays die quickly from the virus, robins survive the virus longer, thus spreading it to more mosquitoes, which then transmit the virus to humans.

Robins eat primarily (approximately 60 percent) on wild and cultivated fruits and berries, and (approximately 40 percent) on invertebrates, such as earthworms, beetle grubs, caterpillars and grasshoppers. That ability to switch to berries allows them to winter much farther north than most other North American thrushes, of which it is a member of that family.

The answer to the question as to whether they go south for the winter or not, is that it does migrate, but some don’t travel as far as others, and some will stay behind, probably depending on the severity of the winter. Their return in February and March also contributes to the belief they don’t migrate.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Have the New England Patriots and Houston Texans ever met in a playoff game?

by Roland D. Hallee

Every fall, when we begin the depressing work of closing down camp, a group of us campers get together for the “end of the season suppah.” And, inevitably, the questions are asked of me, “where do loons go in the winter, why do they leave, and how do they know to return at precisely the time ice goes out?”

Let me see if I can answer the questions.

Although the summer breeding range of loons is well documented, how they get to and from their summer range and exactly where they go during the winter has been a puzzle to scientists for some time. In recent years, with the banding of loons, data shows that loons migrate to the open and warmer waters of the ocean during the winter.

Loons leave their summer breeding lakes because they freeze up. They don’t go farther south, where lakes don’t freeze, because a new set of dangers awaits: preying alligators, water that is too warm for loons, or too shallow and murky for diving and hunting. Loons need very clear, deep, open water for diving and catching fish. The ocean is the right place for loons in winter.

Because loons are heavy birds with large feet, they must “run” across the water for about a quarter of a mile before taking flight. Like jets, loons need long runways to gather speed before lifting off. If there’s ice on the lake, they can’t run for lift-off, and they may become trapped. Trapped loons are at risk of death.

What about food? During the summer, loons feed on fish, aquatic vertebrates and once in a while on plants. Their favorite summer food is yellow perch, but will eat whatever is available and what they can catch. This includes trout, though trout tend to be too fast for loons. They also enjoy dragonfly larvae.

But, fresh water is different from the ocean’s salt water. Loons have a special adaptation to handle salty fish and salty water. They have salt glands in their skull between their eyes. These drip almost constantly during the winter season. Even young chicks as young as two weeks old are competent to remove salt if they are fed salty solutions.

During the winter, they eat, among other things, flounder, crabs, lobster, shrimp, gulf menhaden, bay anchovies and silversides. Menhaden, a Native American word (munnawhateaug), is a fish found in great numbers along the Atlantic coast of North America, and is also used as manure and produces a valuable oil. They may be so important to loons that it can influence their migration.

It is also asked how far loons can fly at one period of time. Actually, it’s not really known how far they can fly without stopping. They have been clocked at 90 mph and we know that they are capable of migrating long distances, but they do stop en route to feed and rest. It is also known, that some loons migrate from the Adirondacks to the coast of Maine. Their flight lasts about 48 hours and they fly in a virtually straight line to the coast, with no stopovers.

And, about their timely arrival back to their breeding lake? We already know that since loons can’t stand on land, they fly to the open waters of the ocean. But how do they know when to come back on the very day of ice out? They make exploratory flights each morning, moving closer and closer to their nesting destination, and fly back if they don’t find open water. Sometimes loons begin checking its lake several days before the lake opens up. That means the loon will certainly be there the day the ice finally goes out.

Keep in mind, though, that since loons need a running start to take flight, they have to be careful. Should they return, and the lake re-freezes, they could get trapped. They seem to have adapted its behavior for this special circumstance, and seem to be able to avoid the danger.

Finally, why do they gather on one lake in the fall just before migrations? Loons gathering, called “rafting,” may help them feed more efficiently. Adults gather on a few large, non-breeding lakes, allowing the young to remain on their breeding lakes without competition as their flight feathers grow all the way in and their wings grow strong enough for the final migration. Also, as loons lose their territorial drive in late summer and feed in groups, they no longer spend time and energy chasing off other loons. If the lake is a breeding lake, usually the adults are nesting and the pair is no longer defending the nest. Sharing a space makes more sense because everyone can spend their time eating. It may also help to prevent loons being attacked by predators because there are more eyes looking out for attacks.

The primary importance for a “rafting lake” is that is has to have a lot of fish to feed on. Having islands for protection from the wind also seems important.

Hopefully, that has answered many of the questions about the mysterious, enchanting loons, who seem to be in a world of their own.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Has an NFL team with a losing record ever made it to the Super Bowl?

by Roland D. Hallee

When I was having my usual morning coffee and Danish last week following Sunday church, at a local eatery, I happened to look up at a wide-screen television mounted on the wall to notice an outdoor show. It was your typical show, sponsored by outfitters, outdoor equipment companies and the opinions of various “expert” hunters.

The reason the show caught my attention was the way they were going about hunting. I remember the days when I was an avid hunter (my wife says I have since “lost the thrill of the hunt”), we used to have our favorite spots, get out early in the morning on a full stomach, brave the weather conditions and have great expectations for the outcome at the end of the hunt. It was the hunter vs. the hunted. A classic exercise in who could out think, out maneuver or outwit the other. It was wild game hunting at its best. You needed to possess the skills to pursue your prey in its own environment, both parties equipped with all the instincts Mother Nature provided.

I can remember a couple of those adventures when the animal actually out-smarted me – something my wife says is easy to do (her opinion). I once followed a deer through the snow for many hundreds of yards, never catching sight of him, but I could hear him snorting up ahead of me, and hearing his antlers rattling against tree limbs. I followed him until we crossed our original tracks – basically traveled in a circle – and he actually passed through two conifers without disturbing a snowflake on the boughs. That was when I knew I was outwitted.

But that was then.

Today, it just isn’t fair. Here, on this show, they had hunters gathering on game farms, splashed with deer urine scent like it was Aqua Velva, equipped with global positioning equipment, calling the deer with artificial devices. Once the deer was lured, they employed a computerized gauge to calculate the distance to the target, refer to another hand-held instrument to measure the direction and velocity of the wind before finally sighting in the prey. Mounted on top of their high powered rifle was a scope capable of seeing a gnat’s tonsils at 200 yards.

The deer didn’t stand a chance. The only thing the hunters didn’t have were laser guided ammunition or “smart” bullets. After they dispatched the animal, they would break into a wild celebration. What’s with that?

If, after the use of all that sophisticated equipment, you didn’t come home with a deer that was essentially caged, you should be embarrassed to the point of taking up bowling. The whole episode was like shooting fish in a barrel.

So, I’ve decided that a money-making venture would be to make available to deer: human motion sensors, rear view mirrors, bullet proof vests, space-aged unpenetrable deflector shields a-la Star Trek, and laser guided bullet defense systems. After all, it’s only fair.

Remember the old saying, “We believe in the right to arm bears?” Well, the same could be said about deer.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Name the seven NFL teams with the initials of their cities on the side of their helmets.

by Roland D. Hallee

While watching the National Geographics channel on television, I saw an episode of a series called Great Migrations, and became very interested in the Monarch butterflies, who are among the most intriguing of the migrating species.

The monarch is probably the best known of all North American butterflies. Its wings feature an easily recognizable orange and black pattern, with a wingspan of 3-1/2 – 4 inches.

The monarch is most famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer in the Americas which spans the lifetime of three to four generations of the butterfly.

The upper side of the wings is tawny-orange, the veins and margins are black, and in the margins are two series of small white spots. The fore wings also have a few orange spots near the tip. The underside is similar but the tip of the fore wing and hind wing are yellow-brown instead of tawny-orange and the white spots are larger.

In North  America, the monarch ranges from southern Canada to northern South America.

Monarchs are especially noted for their lengthy annual migration. In North America they make massive southward migrations starting in August until the first frost. A northward migration takes place in the spring. The monarch is the only butterfly that migrates both north and south as the birds do on a regular basis. But no single individual makes the entire round trip. Female monarchs deposit eggs for the next generation during these migrations.

By the end of October, the population east of the Rocky Mountains migrates to the sanctuaries of the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests in the Mexican states of Michoacán and México. The western population overwinters in various sites in central coastal and southern California, United States, notably in Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz.

The length of these journeys exceeds the normal lifespan of most monarchs, which is less than two months for butterflies born in early summer. The last generation – also known as the super generation – of the summer enters into a non-reproductive phase and may live seven months or more. These butterflies fly to one of many overwintering sites. The generation that overwinters generally does not reproduce until it leaves the overwintering site sometime in February and March.

It is the second, third and fourth generations that return to their northern locations in the United States and Canada in the spring. How the species manages to return to the same overwintering spots over a gap of several generations is still a subject of research; the flight patterns appear to be inherited, based on a combination of the position of the sun in the sky and a time-compensated sun compass that depends upon a circadian (repeating in a 24-hour cycle) clock that is based in their antennae.

Monarch butterflies are one of the few insects capable of making trans-Atlantic crossings. They are becoming more common in Bermuda due to increased usage of milkweed as an ornamental plant in flower gardens.

Because they feed mainly on milkweed, monarch butterflies are poisonous or distasteful to birds and mammals because of the presence of cardiac glycosides that are contained in milkweed consumed by the larva. It is thought the bright colors of larva and adults function as warning colors. During hibernation monarch butterflies sometimes suffer losses because hungry birds pick through them looking for the butterflies with the least amount of poison, but in the process killing those they reject. Some birds, such as orioles and jays have learned to eat only the thoracic muscles and abdominal contents because they contain less poison. In Mexico, about 14 percent of the overwintering monarchs are eaten by birds and mice.

Many people like to attract monarchs by growing a butterfly garden with a specific milkweed species. Many schools also enjoy growing and attending to monarch butterflies, starting with the caterpillar form. When the butterflies reach adulthood they are released into the wild.

Recent illegal deforestation of the monarch’s overwintering grounds have led to a drastic reduction in the butterfly’s population. Efforts to classify it as a protected species and to restore its habitat are under way. Also, a problem in North America is the black swallow-wort plant. Monarchs lay their eggs on these plants since they produce stimuli similar to milkweed. Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars are poisoned by the toxicity of this invasive plant.

The common name “Monarch” was first published in 1874 by Samuel H. Scudder because “it is one of the largest of our butterflies, and rules a vast domain.”

Monarchs are beautiful to watch during the summer, but the next time you see one, think of what that particular butterfly may have gone through to be with us.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who became the first major league pitcher to win 20 of his first 21 decisions in 2001?

by Roland D. Hallee

Over recent years I have been asked why certain creatures in nature seem to be disappearing. First we noticed a decline in fire flies, then June bugs, and even frogs.

Last week, I received an email from a loyal reader about the absence of crickets this past summer. After reflecting, I also wondered why we don’t hear them anymore.

Well, crickets haven’t disappeared, but their numbers and presence can be affected by seasonal changes and long-term environmental factors like habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides. If you don’t hear them, it could be because they are hiding from predators, seeking shelter indoors in colder weather, or it might be winter when they naturally die off and only their eggs overwinter. Conversely, a hot, dry summer can lead to an increase in crickets. So, OK, we had a hot, dry summer, why didn’t we hear crickets?

Here are some short-term reasons you might not hear or see crickets:

Seasonal changes: Crickets generally decrease or disappear during the colder months as temperatures drop. Many species die off after the first frost, with the next generation hatching from eggs in the spring.

Shelter-seeking: They may move indoors to find shelter from the elements, so you might not hear them in your yard anymore.

Predator avoidance: Crickets are sensitive to vibrations. If they hear you coming, they will go silent to avoid being detected by predators.

Long-term reasons for declining numbers.

Habitat loss: Increasing urbanization, large-scale agriculture, and wildfires destroy the natural habitats crickets depend on.

Climate change: Fluctuations in temperature and weather patterns can impact cricket populations.

Insecticides: The use of pesticides can directly kill crickets and contribute to overall insect decline.

What you can do.

For temporary seasonal absence: You can expect to hear them again in the spring, as they overwinter in the egg stage.

If you want to encourage them: Planting native grasses and flowers and reducing pesticide use can help create a more favorable environment.

If you’re seeing them inside: They are likely seeking shelter from the cold or looking for moisture. Focus on sealing cracks and entry points to prevent them from getting inside.

Let’s learn a little more about crickets.

Crickets have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found in all parts of the world with the exception of cold regions at latitudes higher than about 55 degrees North and South. They have colonized many large and small islands, sometimes flying over the sea to reach these locations, or perhaps conveyed on floating timber or by human activity.

Crickets are found in many habitats. Members of several subfamilies are found in the upper tree canopy, in bushes, and among grasses and herbs. They also occur on the ground and in caves, and some are subterranean, excavating shallow or deep burrows. Some make home in rotting wood, and certain beach-dwelling species can run and jump over the surface of water.

Crickets are relatively defenseless, soft-bodied insects. Most species are nocturnal and spend the day hidden in cracks, under bark, inside curling leaves, under stones or fallen logs, in leaf litter, or in the cracks in the ground that develop in dry weather. Some excavate their own shallow holes in rotting wood or underground and fold in their antennae to conceal their presence. Some of these burrows are temporary shelters, used for a single day, but others serve as more permanent residences and places for mating and laying eggs. Crickets burrow by loosening the soil with the mandibles and then carrying it with the limbs, flicking it backwards with the hind legs or pushing it with the head.

Other defensive strategies are the use of camouflage, fleeing, and aggression.

Most male crickets make a loud chirping sound by stridulation (scraping two specially textured body parts together). Most female crickets lack the necessary adaptations to stridulate, so make no sound.

Several types of cricket songs are in the repertoire of some species. The calling song attracts females and repels other males, and is fairly loud. The courting song is used when a female cricket is near and encourages her to mate with the caller. A triumphal song is produced for a brief period after a successful mating and may reinforce the mating bond to encourage the female to lay some eggs rather than find another male. An aggressive song is triggered to detect the presence of another male cricket.

So, how come this past summer, the only time I heard crickets was when I told a really bad dad joke?

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Name the Red Sox player who is the only one to hit for the cycle in a post season game.