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American Robins are large songbirds with a round body, long legs, and streaked throat. They are gray-brown above and orange below. Their musical song is a string of ten or so clear whistles, described as cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up. They have several calls including a repeated chirr that sounds like a laugh and at one point during the Jan. 4 bird walk we were surrounded by dozens of laughing robins! When foraging on the ground, American Robins run a few steps then stop abruptly to look around. In spring and summer, American Robins eat earthworms and insects and throughout the year eat a variety of fruits and berries. During fall and winter, robins roost and forage in flocks. American Robins are common in many habitats, from suburbs and golf courses to fields and tundra, and from deciduous and pine forests to tree line and burned forests. They are year-round residents across almost the entire continental U.S. and in the highlands of central Mexico. In summer, part of the population migrates into Canada and Alaska and in winter, part of the population migrates to the southernmost U.S. and most of northern Mexico. In southern California, American Robins breed in the mountains as low as Oak Glen but are present at Four Seasons (and lower) only in the winter, forming large flocks such as the 100+ birds we witnessed on Jan. 4. ~ Steve Edelman Birding CLUB The Birding Club welcomes beginning and experienced birders to start or hone bird identification skills. Our main activity is a monthly bird walk along Four Seasons' nature trails, which follow native riparian woodlands. We keep a list of all species observed at Four Seasons and take seasonal field trips to nearby birding hot spots. Our bird walk on Dec. 14 produced a modest 16 species due to a dense fog that limited visibility. However, we did get our best looks ever at a cooperative flock of California Quail. Our bird walk on Jan. 4 produced an impressive 23 species, which was not quite a record, but we did set a record for the most birders, a very impressive 21! It was a beautiful morning highlighted by a huge, loose flock of at least 50 Cedar Waxwings and 100 American Robins (our Bird of the Month). The robins were everywhere and everyone got good looks at the handsome Cedar Waxwings. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 8 am at the Potrero Creek (Trail A) trailhead at The Lodge parking lot. Email steve.h.edelman@gmail.com for current schedule and information. ~ Steve Edelman FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2020 37 Bird of the Month The Four Seasons Birding Club pauses for photographers during our Jan. 4 bird walk. The California Towhee is seen on almost every bird walk. Photo by club member John Hansen during our Jan. 4 bird walk American Robin. Photo by club member Kathryn McGiffen during our Jan. 4 bird walk

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