Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Robins Are Coming


There are hundreds of robins outside my studio window, flocks and flocks of them. They are eating the berries of our Carolina cherry laurel. The robins have been here for about two weeks or so. They've eaten almost every last berry, so I spent half an hour trying to get photos of them through the window. Every time the hawks scream they fly away in unison. All that's left behind is the whoosh of their wings.

Just so you won't get tired of all these bird photos I included a couple of tiles I made the other day. The first one is a stylized tree with a couple of birds in the tree, a pink one and a blue one. I might make another one with rectangles for leaves instead of circles.


The second one is a pine branch lying on the beach, I used a real shell with barnacles to texture the clay.


I was able to submit input on the robin migration map for my location. Last year I gave input on another site for the swallow tailed kite I saw here. I might have to make a few bird tiles, perhaps a robin head study, if I can achieve what's in my mind on clay.


When I was a kid I remember seeing a robin's nest with the beautiful blue eggs in it. Later I remember seeing the baby birds with closed eyes, no feathers, and worms their mother brought them in their fat stomachs.


I've always been drawn to birds even at a young age. You might recall the story, The Thicket, I wrote. If not click on the link to read about it. Of course several of my readers guessed it was based on my childhood.


I suspect the robins are fattening up for their northward migration. They move quickly intent on harvesting the berries and it's hard for me to get a photo since they are never still. Luckily I got these photos because now the robins are gone. They must be flying north to their breeding grounds. Keep an eye out, the robins are coming. Comments are welcome.

13 comments:

  1. Those robins may want to put a hold on the trip or at least fly slow. Even southern Arkansas has snow on the ground today with a supposidly rough week ahead.
    So glad you had a feast for them and the hawk didn't feast on them.

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  2. tell those robins to get up here fast - we can't wait for spring!! i just love robins, they resemble everything good in the world to me... new beginning, warmer temperatures... can't wait to see them up here!

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  3. Linda, I love your eye for nature- you have a strong spirit, for sure!

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  4. I think they Robins are on to something! and let us hope the groundhog is correct in an early spring!

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  5. this must be robin week! gary rith posted on facebook about seeing a robin in NY and yesterday we had one trying to get into a window here. BRING ON SPRING!

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  6. This is comforting. I love how you use nature in your clay pieces,and I love your new blog look. Very Nice!

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  7. Can spring me around the corner?

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  8. "Inspired by nature." I hear this a lot in the art world, but to watch you actually do it is amazing.

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  9. YAY robins! Means spring is not far away. I love the new look of your blog.

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  10. Hi Patti, thanks, I guess the birds have a leap of faith that the weather will warm as they go.

    Hi Mel, thanks, I guess the birds will have to dig deep to find something to eat along the way.

    Hi Kathy, thanks, I love watching the birds; there were so many robins all in one place.

    Hi Meredith, thanks, you know what an early spring does though, it only brings summer along too quickly.

    Hi Michele, thanks, I hope the robin trying to get in the window is ok.

    Hi Teresa, thanks, nature does affect me immensely as do all the living creatures.

    Hi Helen, thanks, yes I think it's around the corner.

    Hi Turquoisemoon, thanks, I guess that statement is a bit of a cliche now that I think about it, but I do love nature and need to get more of it back in my life.

    Hi Judy, thanks, a little color might be just the pick me up I need.

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  11. The second one is really really beautiful, Linda! It looks like the plate is made of DREAM!
    We don't have lovely robins in our neighborhood. I envy you!!

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  12. Hi Sapphire, thanks, I think robins may be only in America or this hemisphere. I could be wrong about that. So glad you like my work, hope all is well with you.

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  13. I love the robins...makes me remember that in spite of all the snow up my way, spring is around the corner. How are the classes going?

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