Robin watch

You know how most mornings the first thought you have before your eyes open is...well, completely unplanned? Since you're still probably half-asleep, your subconscious has an instant to have a voice that you "hear" and the first thought of the day is unscripted, uncensored and sometimes surprising.

My first thought this morning? Before my eyes opened and my mind knew it was waking?

The robins will be back soon.

Yeah, even my subconscious has a hankering for spring.

Did you know that the first robin you see in your yard is probably a male robin? It's true. In robinworld, males lead the way. They find a comfy spot for raising a nestful of babies. They're territorial, and once the male's chosen a spot for his new family, he defends the area by singing. Female robins arrive shortly after their men. They set up a nest, produce eggs and the rest, as they say, is history.

Attract robins to your yard in a variety of ways. Robins prefer bugs and fruit to seeds, so place grapes, strawberries and orange slices near your bird feeders. Hopefully your lawn will provide the bugs! Also, a birdbath will bring robins, and other birds, to the space. Then, all you've got to do is sit back and wait. If my subconscious is to be believed, the robins will be back soon.

That is, if it ever stops snowing!