Robins Attack!
On coastal Massachusetts mid fall is the time when holly trees start developing berries. After the first frost, the berries begin to really ripen. By early winter the hollies are loaded of bright red ripe berries. That’s when hundreds of robins flock and attack!
The robins go into a feeding frenzy! Hundreds will swarm a single tree. They wildly grab the berries as fast as they can.
Robins form territorial pairings in spring and summer when their foods, insects and worms are abundant and they are focused on nesting.
But in winter they will flock in the hundreds
It’s a matter of safety
In winter their primary foods disappear. They either migrate south or shift to eating berries. They also adopt group social behavior. Flocking in large groups mean more eyes and improved chances to spot — and avoid —predators. They also increase the odds of discovering food.
And enjoyment!
Some say that holly berries ferment after the frost. So the robins are in party mode being social and getting a good buzz on!
Robins aggressively feed, steal from each other, and will strip a 30 foot holly full of berries in an afternoon!
The trees that surround Beacon Studios are mainly red cedar, holly, and “beetlebungs” or tupelos. They all produce lots of berries, and provide winter food for birds and animals. It’s a great spot for bird watching.
These shots were taken from the back deck of the studio, in the rain, about 200 feet from the holy tree. The Sony RX10iv camera was right for the application. The lens was zoomed out to 500 mm and the shutter was in burst mode - 15 FPS. It did a great job stopping the action. The next several shots are in sequence. Each about 1/15 second apart.
