Early Robin (Turdus migratorius) Sighting in Fairbanks

Observation by Katie Spellman:

This morning I heard and saw a robin in Fairbanks right near the fairgrounds. I have lived in Fairbanks for more than 30 years and have never seen a robin this early!

Comments from LEO Editors:

American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are normally seen in Alaska during the summer months for their breeding season. However, in the past several years, some communities have reported these seeing migratory birds earlier than normal. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, robins may arrive when temperatures reach approximately 36 degrees. In the Alaska Climate Science Center figure bellow, temperatures in Fairbanks have been above normal during the majority of March and April with many days reaching between 25 and 50 degrees.

Another theory about the robin's arrival is they follow the availability of food. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology lists the robin's diet as including earthworms and snails, in addition to fruits such as chokecherries, hawthorn, dogwood, and sumac fruits, and juniper berries. Erica Lujan