One of the first signs people associate with spring is the return of the robins.

Over the years, I have answered many questions about robins, so I decided to focus on those questions for this month’s article.

I think because robins are so common and are easily the most recognized songbird, they are often the subject of our callers’ questions:

Q. How long does it usually take a robin to build a nest?

A. It takes two to six days for robins to build their nest.

Q. Can I move and relocate a robin’s nest?

A. Unfortunately, no. If you move a robin’s nest the parents will most likely abandon the nest, eggs, and young. And it is against the law to do so. During the weeks of nesting, hatching and fledging homeowners have to find ways of avoiding the nest and not stressing out the parents or young birds. Like everything else, a little patience is all that is needed until the birds leave the nest.

Q. After the baby robins leave the nest, should I leave it to use again, or take it down?

A. It’s unlikely that the robins will use an old nest, most of them build a new nest. The old nest often has insects or parasites not to mention droppings. Once the young robins leave the nest, it is alright to remove it.

Q. Will the male robin take over the nest if something happens to the female?

A. Females have a brood patch (a brood patch is a patch of featherless skin on the underside of birds during the nesting season) to keep those eggs at just the right temperature. If something happens to the male, the female might continue incubating the eggs. She may give the nest up because of the difficulties of raising the nestlings on her own.

Q. Will a blue jay steal eggs from a robin’s nest?

A. Yes! Most birds are opportunists so when opportunity knocks; eat it. Other predators of robin eggs are snakes, squirrels, and crows.

Q. What can we do with the robin egg we found in our yard?

A. The best thing to do with an egg found on the ground is to simply leave it. This may be an egg that wasn’t fertilized or didn’t develop properly. After the other young are a day or two old, the parents get rid of unhatched eggs, so they do not crush the rotting egg in the nest.

Q. How can we help robins?

A. Building nest platforms offer them a safe place to build their nests and to raise their young. We have nest platform plans at the center and they are easily found online.

Keeping cats indoors is important for all species of birds and other small animals. We have a solution to allowing cats to be outside and protecting wildlife. Contact us for information about that if interested.

Using other methods of getting rid of weeds and insects besides resorting to pesticides is a great way to protect robins from accidental poisoning. If plants and insects are sprayed with some sort of pesticide, and robins eat these foods, they can be poisoned.

Planting berry trees and bushes that provide abundant food for robins and offer good cover to hide from predators.

Setting up a water station for the robins is another way to help them and it’s fun to watch them splash in the water.

Q. Why don’t birds sleep in their old nests in the wintertime?

A. The nests have one purpose; they are cradles for the developing young robins. The nests are built to last a single season and aren’t in the best shape by the time the young robins fledge. If the nests were between the branches of deciduous trees and shrubs, autumn exposes those nests to weather. Leaving the nest is not a bad idea though because one creature that appreciates an empty bird nest is the deer mouse. These tiny mammals will renovate the old nest and use it all winter!

Q. Why is this robin peeking at the window?

A. They aren’t called bird brains for nothing. It’s the male robin that does this because he sees his reflection but cannot make the connection that this bird is his reflection and not another bird. He thinks it is a female and he is trying to convince her to have young or it is a rival he is trying to drive away.

Q. Why are there robins that staying in winter?

A. The robins are not migrating because they discovered food. Migration is about food and not the cold.

Q. How do robins prepare for winter?

A. In October they start to grow more down feathers to improve their insulation for winter. Also, summer food supplies have diminished; there are still plenty of berries around to eat, but migration starts around October. But in fall and winter, robins don’t stay in a single spot for long - they wander about searching for new sources of still-fresh fruits.

Q. What can I do to help robins in fall and winter?

A. There are several things that can be down to make backyards “robin friendly.” Not raking up the dead leaves under trees and shrubs leaves ideal spots for birds to forage for insects as weather gets colder. Birds need shelter from harsh conditions, so shrubs provide both valuable winter cover and nesting material for birds in the spring.

Planting native fruit trees and shrubs will provide robins with food sources for robins migrating through, or overwintering. To feed them in the winter, leave dried mealy worms in a shallow pie pan.

Q. Is there enough food for wintering robins that do not migrate?

A. Robins require protein especially when females are producing eggs and when both sexes are molting-these activities occur only during the time of year when they’re eating worms and insects. During winter when they switch to a diet of fruits and berries.

Q. Is it OK to feed robins wintering over?

A. Robins only spend the winter in areas where there is food available, so feeding them isn’t necessary. Robins don’t eat birdseed and usually don’t eat fruit such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries in a holder.

They don’t make the connection that this fruit is like the fruit that grows on trees. It doesn’t hurt to offer it to them, but it is likely they won’t eat it. That’s why I put out the mealy worms for them.

Q. Do robins eat suet?

A. I had no idea, so I had to “Google” it. According to several websites, it’s not unheard of but is unusual. A robin’s diet is full of high-protein insects and worms. Suet is another source of protein. I am glad this caller asked because I learned something I had not known before!

Q. Do robins need water in the winter?

A. They need to drink in the winter as well as other times of the year. I put a small dish of water out for them that they can drink from but cannot get in and bathe. A small battery-operated heater helps to keep the water from freezing for a little while.

Jeannie Carl is a naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. The center rehabilitates injured animals and educates the public on a variety of wildlife found in the area. For information on the Carbon County Environmental Center, visit www.carboneec.org.