Frazz by Jef Mallett for October 06, 2023

The question that always comes up for me is “How do you KNOW it’s the last one?” And how do you talk about it: Remember that Robin that was hear during the sleet-storm? I think that was the last one I saw this year. Yeah, right.

I actually hit a robin in flight with my car one February in PA!

You always notice the last one, because it’s drunk on fermented fruit and dive bombing you, all the way to the car.

Robins are here all year, but we usually see them more in autumn and winter. Just saw one last week, so I guess that’s my signal that autumn has really begun.

It’s because you know the past but not the future.

Two issues here. Robins have a diet that is not conducive to northern winter weather; so they fall into the migratory group. The only ones that Frazz would see in winter are those who somehow know not to make the trip. I’m not privy to that thought process.

Second is that after a period of absence, the first one seen is a “new experience” and is so noted. We usually see a group (50+) of robins moving north before they divide into pairs. However, on the way out, they become less often seen and there is no indication the the “last” is really the end.

Tell a group of people that you are going to press a buzzer a number of times. Ask them it raise a hand when they hear the first one " Good everyone got it."Now proceed at an irregular pace and ask them to raise their hand when you sound the last buzzer. Not so easy.

We found out that “our” Robins go South pretty early. And their “reappearance” is actually the Canadian Robins coming down to Illinois for their “going South for the Winter”!!!

We watch for the last of the Hummingbirds. Most of them have moved on, but there are always stragglers. I’ll continue to refill my feeders until November.

Every year we have one day where 50-60 robins appear in our back yard. Almost looks like a family reunion before they head out to their designated hunting grounds. For me, it is the sign that spring has finally arrived.

In case you looked at ewaldoh’s comment and thought, TLDR: Because you know it’s the first one you’ve seen that year, but you can never be sure if one is the last you will see.

They both need appropriate signs.

White Crowned Sparrows are our first sign of fall, altho this year in California summer flowers are still blooming, and the fall color changes and migrating birds have been later than usual.

“Rob? Rob? Where is every…Oh, shoot! Why am I always the last to know these things?”

The ones I miss are the half dozen or more chipping sparrows that can clear a feeder in about 2 days. Very present a couple years ago but seen only once this year. I also miss the rarely seen spotted towhee and his lady that clean up the seeds spilled from the feeders by sloppy eaters. Very shy pair but beautiful to see.

Last one out, please shut off the lights.

The first robin is probably the first to leave as well.

It’s so easy to see the first of anything. Very difficult to be aware of the last of anything.

There’s a song called “The Last Time” that says that everyone remembers the first time, but that no one knows it’s the last time… until it is.

When you see the first robin of spring, you can tell everybody about it right away. When you see the last robin of fall, you have to wait quite awhile to be SURE it was the last before you can tell anybody about it, and by then you’ve forgotten why you cared. I deal with this by not caring in the first place.

Robin is in the Batcave, where he usually is.

How does one know which one is the last one?

Will the last Robin out please turn out the lights?

Our bird of fall is more when the geese fly over. We have mainly year-round residents in Texas.

The last robin of fall is waiting for the early worm.

Most robins in the USA stay in their home territory all year. In the winter, the northern robins have to find food sources other then the bugs, grubs and worms in our lawns. That is why we do not see them very often then. They are foraging for fruits and berries in the woodlands.