April 13

We had a cool rainy day today, raw feeling really and decidedly less like April and more like early March.

At one point this afternoon, I looked out the front window and counted 14 robins spread out on the front yard, each busy intently on searching for food. It was fascinating to watch, for it was clear that each bird would pause briefly after moving quickly to a new location, cock its head just so to see, and either move on to a new location or stab purposefully at the grass.

I watched a single bird move about this way, and I counted a rate of roughly 1 perceived prey to 4 disregards. Of those times when it did peck at the ground, it seemed to capture some larvae or worm on most occasions. It’s amazing really, that its hearing is so acute so as to sense the movement of so small a quarry a half inch or so below the ground.

The day- long rain has flooded the ground, still saturated from the melted snow, and I suspect that the worms and grubs have come to the surface so as not to drown. April rains that deluge so, often cause scores of worms to erupt and make for drier conditions, which is usually the driveway or roadbed. It’s no wonder that robins are so plentiful now.