The American robin – Turdus migratorius – is the most common landbird species in North America and a fixture across campus.
The robin has weathered and thrived, despite its turbulent environment, to be one of the most successful vertebrate species of our day. Some naturalists may point to its balanced diet of bugs and fruits as the key to its success, but I think there may be more to its prevalence in our ecosystem. Something that many of us choose to ignore.
The robin is a small, efficient machine of biology, with its body plan having no need for frivolous features. Robins are easily identified by their golden-orange bellies and dark overcoats, making them undoubtedly recognizable, but not necessarily the belle of the ball.
They have a certain vibe around them that screams “autumn.” It could be the color scheme, it could be their general disposition or maybe something as simple as their commonality, but autumn isn’t even their favorite season.
In the spring, when our temperate climate facilitates the grandest change and rebirth in the natural world, the influx of warmth, food and colors gives rise to the miracle of life. Each robin clutch contains five baby blue eggs, a striking contrast to the orange adults. These iconic eggs can be seen shortly after breeding season, a reminder of the type of change spring can bring.
The seasons we experience, especially in New England, are a turbulence we can predict to some degree, yet never as precisely as we would like. Whether it’s adjusting to wind chill or remembering when the sun sets, we take our time to adjust and acclimate to the seasons.
Each season has a cultural aesthetic foothold that, in itself, is beautiful and unique. Even still, many people will have a least favorite season. How could this be?
As generalists, robins can anticipate and adapt to these seasons. When summer ends and fall comes, they change their diet. When the morning frost is replaced with the morning dew, the new abundance in food gives a robin couple the best chance to pass on their genetic material to the next generation. I think this is a secret to the robin’s ubiquity; flowing with the seasons is something that the American robin has mastered and directly leads to their ecological success. In order for the early bird to get the worm, they have to know when it is early.
So, as we enter the daunting New England winter, with the fears of finals weighing heavily on our tired shoulders, take advantage of the good the season gives you. Play in the snow, find warmth in the philosophical and embody the resilience and plasticity of a robin. As the Romans and, much more importantly, Robin Williams said, “carpe diem!”
