Seasonal Milepost 95

Day 095 of 365—a third of the year is nearly gone.

You usually hear the robins first; their song sparks anticipation. The first robin is a hallmark of spring in the Northland, known not just for its arrival but for its resilience.

Robins are incredibly hardy birds. They can survive very cold temperatures by fluffing their feathers for insulation and lowering their metabolism during cold nights to conserve energy. Their ability to adjust their diet and behavior allows them to arrive early in Northland Springtime.

The return of robins to the lawns and bird feeders signals something important — the frost is leaving the ground. As the soil begins to thaw, worms become active again, and robins return to their familiar spring behavior of running, stopping, listening, and pulling worms from the earth.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

The robin remains one of the earliest and most reliable signs that spring has arrived.