As a kid, I remember seeing American robins (Turdus migratorius) moving through New Mexico and my folks telling us that robins meant that spring was on the way. I was too young to question that or to wonder why that was, I just remember adoring robins because they meant spring was just around the corner. Now that I’m older and have spent a lot of time studying birds and bird behavior, I realize that yes, robins can indeed be a good sign that spring is here. But I now also know that this is because they start their migration north to their breeding grounds earlier than a lot of other birds. They also tend to migrate in large flocks, so when we see them, we often see a lot of them. Even though I now understand the logistics of it all, it hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm for robins one bit. They still make me feel happy and ready for the renewal of nature that they foretell.