Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) is a very common tree/shrub in southern Ontario, and American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is an equally common bird. How fitting that they should come together!
Resident birds have been joined by recent migrants and there is a great demand for food. Springlike conditions have been interrupted by a few days of execrable weather, with snow, cold temperatures, freezing rain from time to time, ice pellets and sleet. Hardly suitable conditions for birds to find food.
The drupes of Staghorn Sumac are generally thought to be an emergency ration for birds, probably on account of their dryness.
Doubtless, robins had been unable to find their normal invertebrate prey, and earthworms were encased in frozen soil, so sumac seeds became the plat du jour.
I have been unable to find anything specific on the nutritional value of sumac seeds, but I have also seen it used as winter browse by White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), so one might conclude that it sometimes serves as more than a food of last resort.
Some birds were foraging on the ground, perhaps finding a beetle or two, but more likely gathering up morsels dropped by their congeners above.
All in all, it was a very pleasant encounter.
And speaking of pleasant encounters, we met up with our old friend, Don Thomas, farther along the trail. Don is a consummate photographer, a superb naturalist and someone with a keen eye for beauty.
He shared with me some incredibly beautiful shots of icicles along the river, and I will share them with you.
Baubles he calls them, and I can't imagine a better name.
Two pictures would hardly be enough.
Okay, two more.....
Robins, sumacs, and ice baubles. Indeed, for one brief moment at least, all is well with the world.
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Ice seems like a dumb song.
ReplyDeleteThe birds that eat it are very interesting as a patient.
...perhaps common, but a beautiful sign of spring. Your ice images are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteRobins are simply beautiful no matter where they are found! You are right about how pleasant the images are with them surrounded by the sumac.
ReplyDeleteI love the juxtaposition of the iconic symbols of Spring (Robins) and Winter (ice "baubles").
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, the contrast of the reds and browns of the Robin against the monotone meanness of the icicles is starkly beautiful! Stunning, on both counts. YAM xx
A=Arrival
Usually this time of year we had a bunch (whatever their proper group name may be) of Robins...who like to eat some red seeds on a bush/tree on the grounds of our apartments. And those red seeds don't agree with them and so there's a lot of robin processed seed poop, if you will, on cars. I've only seen a couple here this year. Your photos are extraordinary!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are extraordinary! We usually have flocks of robins who eat some red seeds that don't seem to agree with them...and cause a lot of smudges of red stuff on our cars. This year I've only seen a couple of robins.
ReplyDeleteHallo David,
ReplyDeletePrachtige foto's van deze voor ons hier in Nederland exotische roodborst. De kleuren van de vogel passen perfect bij de kleur van de bloemen. Mooie foto's ook van je vriend van de ijspegels. Hier is het weer vergelijkbaar, eerst zonnig en warm en nu sneeuw en temperaturen onder nul, zelfs 's-nachts matige vorst, bijzonder.
Groeten,
Ad
Thanks for stopping by, Ad. It's always great to hear from you.
DeleteWe often neglect to notice the beauty of common things. Thank you for featuring two of them here.
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteThe robins are very pretty, and it's nice that they can find food out in the nature.
The ice baubles are very beautiful! You can post more of them if you like!
Hugs and kisses, Marit
Fabulous photos of the birds feeding on sumac and of the icy baubles along the river, so beautiful. Spring has been rudely interrupted by icy weather with sleet and snow here, too, let's hope its soon over. Have a great weekend, bIG HUGS; vALERIE
ReplyDeleteQu'est ce que c'est joli ce gel!<3
ReplyDeleteL'oiseau et la plante aussi, j'ai des Sumac sauvages aussi ici, le feuillages prends de très belles couleurs à l'automne. Bon weekend
If we have to have ice, it doesn’t get more perfect than that, David. Love the robin photos too.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Marie.
DeleteI did not know they liked sumac. Ours, of course, rarely survives a winter.
ReplyDeleteSplendid pictures of the Robins as well as Don's beautiful ice jewels. Our weather has turned chilly too with a little snow and early morning frost. Not as cold as you've been experiencing, but the swallows and warblers just arrived from Africa must wonder why they felt compelled to fly all that way.
ReplyDeleteSame here, John, early migrants always get caught in a freak storm or two, but they seem to weather it well and go on to breed.
DeleteIt was a beautiful and poetic post with wonderful colors on both bird, drupes and sky. Thanks to Don Thomas for the great photos showing a beautiful world at a standstill.
ReplyDeleteBest regards Lisbeth
Congrats on your Turdus migratorius' pictures! My favourite are the 3rd and the 5th ones.
ReplyDeleteThe Turdus which I see here in my environs isn't as beautiful as the grey & yellow one
I also like those unusual ice images.
Your format has changed. I love your header photo. So pretty. Very nice color combinations today. Very enjoyable adventure.
ReplyDeletePrecioso querido amigo, el Petirrojo americano cada día me gusta más, es un pájaro muy bello. Las fotos de tu buen amigo son excepcionales, incluso parece que lleven música incrustada esas composiciones de hielo.
ReplyDeleteAl parecer regresa el frío nuevamente, aquí en España, según los meteorólogos la próxima semana se esperan nuevamente lluvias, tormentas y nieve, regresa nuevamente el frío en esta primavera.
Os deseo un feliz fin de semana amigos.
Un gran abrazo mi querido amigo y profesor David.
Don't you love them?!
ReplyDeleteWe've had robins since February. Just three!
Grouse like sumac, as well, but I'll bet you know that. You know everything birdy!
Querido David las fotos son espectaculares. Estos petirrojos son preciosos. Posiblemente las semillas de Zumaque sea para las aves como aquí la de los escaramujos, tienen muchas propiedades y vitamina c, que les viene genial. Los carámbanos son increíbles. Aquí también comenzó de nuevo el frío, esta noche nevó, espero que sea poco tiempo porque las aves ya comenzaron a criar. Un fuerte abrazo para ti y para Miriam.
ReplyDeleteThank you and your friend so much.
ReplyDeleteIt is not yet light here, and world events sadden and worry me. This beautiful post has lifted my heart.
Your friend has certainly captured the beauty of those icicles. I sympathize with the robins - I wouldn't want to eat frozen food either :)
ReplyDeleteI've had robins in my yard back starting at the beginning of the week when the highs were around 0 (degrees C). I felt so bad for them and the Eastern Phoebes that are also back. No insects on those cold days. Luckily that cold is gone, but I'm not sure if the worms are up yet. I didn't know about sumac seeds. That might explain the 2 young deer that have taken walked through the woods behind the house lately. They sure do camouflage among the trees. Have a great start to your weekend David. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteWonderful photographs of the Robins, sumacs, and ice baubles.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, thank you.
Happy April Wishes.
All the best Jan
Wonderful shots.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful set of photos. Our robins are feeding well from the ground; enough warm days and rain.
ReplyDeleteThose photos are just gorgeous, so are the American robins of course.
ReplyDeleteDavid - Robins arrived here for a day or two and have disappeared again. Clearly, nothing to eat here! The ice photos from your friend are truly spectacular! Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe ice looks amazing as I've never seen ice like that.
ReplyDeleteThe bird is beautiful and so lucky to have such nice food.
We had a Staghorn Sumac in our previous garden, but we didn't plant it, it came courtesy our next door neighbour's garden. It was a difficult job getting rid of it as once it arrived others too soon followed.
ReplyDeleteMother Nature's chandeliers are a winter joy to behold.
A few years ago I planted a sumach in the backyard, because I like them so much, and we only plant native species. A couple of years later when suckers started coming up through the patio I knew it had to go!
DeleteThe combination of the reds of the robins and the sumac is indeed lovely. We never get cold enough here for icicles but yours are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe have had no Robins here in the mountains of NH yet. It is very unusual at this time of year to not have them hopping around on our lawn.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteGorgeous series of Robin photos. I love seeing and hearing the Robins, they have a pretty sound. The icicles are amazing, great photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
There is something reassuring about a robin's return. Nature's fleeting ice sculptures are magnificent!
ReplyDeleteThe persistent adaptation to all sorts of environments means to me that the robin is a remarkable bird. Beautiful photos! Sumac doesn’t have much energy value for humans (though evidently it’s a spicy addition to food) but it’s eaten by some people.
ReplyDeletebest… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
If I am not mistaken, some people use it to make tea, a practice adopted from indigenous people.
DeleteHi David - I always love seeing the American Robin and the Sumac plant ... I have spice sumac in my cupboard at the moment - the one American Robin we had here in Eastbourne has moved on. Thankfully the cold north wind is easing ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteSpecial effects of the Ice.
These are beautiful birds.
Greetings from Patricia.
"the plat du jour" - very well said.
ReplyDeleteOur Peanut (red squirrel) chose an old apple above walnuts, hm, now I wonder...? Ingo stated squirrels don´t eat fruit - he ate it all up! (Peanut, not Ingo)
Brrr, the ice. Beautiful, but enough for now!
Baubles is a perfect name! I didn't realize about Robins and sumac. I've seen a few (very few) here and wondered how or if they could find a single work or even bug through our hard soil. Now I know!
ReplyDeleteWonderful captures of the Robin. The ice photos are absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDear David!
ReplyDeleteThe photos of the birds are amazing. I can't take my eyes off this beauty. I admire the beautiful robins.
Hugs and greetings.
The ice formations are gorgeous! We see flocks of Robins come to Florida at Christmas time which always seems funny. Most places, they are a sign of Spring. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteYour photo change from color to black and white is great... and these unbelievably beautiful pictures of the ice are really great... the imagination takes over :-)))
ReplyDeleteThe photos of the robins are fascinating...we had snow last night, I've started feeding the birds again...until the frost passes.
We had a great tour in a castle park :-)))
Many greetings to you. Viola
The American Robin seems to be somewhat less territorial than the European Robin, David. You are probably aware that our Robins will fight to the death in defence of their territory - a trait that goes against the common image of a friendly garden companion. They do, however, seem to tollerate each other at feeders when the weather is harsh and food is plentiful. Delightful images of birds and of ice, the latter being in forms that I have not seen before.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard
Once our robins initiate breeding they become more territorial, but I have never witnessed anything like a fight to the death!
DeleteBeautiful photos of the Robins, and the ice formations are fascinating!
ReplyDeleteThe robins are beautiful and the ice is amazing!
ReplyDeleteMe encanta ver a los pájaros, se ven preciosos. Las fotografías que te paso tu amigo del hielo me encantan. Un gran abrazo para Miriam y para ti.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteStunning handsome bird! It is more a Turdus than a Robin. beautiful images!
Alse great images of the ice formations. ( looks very cold there!!)
All the best,
Maria
You are correct, Maria. It was named a robin by nostalgic early European settlers to North America, who called the first bird they saw with a red breast a robin, and the name has stuck. It should more correctly be called a Red-breasted Thrush, perhaps.
DeleteThanks for linking & sharing!
ReplyDelete~Anni @ I'd rather B Birdin'.
Glorious robin photos David.
Hopefully the Robins will be munching on bugs and worms very soon! The baubles are so delicate and each one unique.
ReplyDeleteThe weather forecast is for above freezing temperatures over the next week so that will help. Are you guys back home?
Deletelve the shots of both the Robin and the iceicles :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a collection of beautiful photos here. I have made friends at work with some ducks.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Hi David,
ReplyDeletegood for the robins that they can eat from the sumac when there's nothing eatable on the ground. Also here weather conditions are strange. After a very warm and sunny march (I liked that), april started extremely cold, with a bit of snow, we didn't see before this winter!!
Thank you for showing the pictures of the baubles your friend made. They are wonderful.
Best regards, Corrie
I love it when the robins return to our cabin on Powell Lake, BC. They visit my float garden and hop along the granite cliff. - Margy
ReplyDeleteGlad the robins are able to find food during the cold days. The icicles pictures are stunning. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteBardzo podoba mi się ten ptak. Podobny do naszego kwiczoła (Turdus pilaris) .
ReplyDeleteMagnificent photos, both the robins and the baubles!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a talent with the camera. Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteA common tree and a common bird make fantastic photos, I especially loved the 4th photo.
ReplyDeleteThe ice photos are incredible, they are pieces of art made by nature.
For some reason, the last of the ice photos remind me of candy making; the form of the ice and the form of the chocolate drops we used to make at Christmas is remarkably similar. But the Robin is the highlight for me. I'm sure I've mentioned to you that Robins were the preeminent bird of my childhood, and my emotional attachment to them is great. In fact, thanks to the wonder of YouTube, I can listen to them singing for an hour or two. It's not as pleasant as having the birds themselves, but it certainly evokes memories and a sweet feeling.
ReplyDelete