When we experienced a very much appreciated lull in the extreme cold weather last week, causing the creek in the ravine to begin flowing once again, temporarily freed from the ice capping it during these colder-than-normal for the period days of unending chill, we saw to our amazement, a number of robins, flitting about the open waters edged with ice.

Several days later, when it had become colder, but not quite as icy as it would once again become, we heard the unmistakable melody of robins singing their welcome of spring. If only that old phrase "from your mouth to god's ear", expressed any kind of reality ...  Environment Canada has issued one of its regular quarterly prognostications about the weather to come, and the warning is to expect that over the coming months the warmth we anticipate will be delayed. Cold will continue to grip the geography.

A winter flock of about 30 robins was noted in one area of the city. Robins, which traditionally fled to warmer climes in anticipation of winter, have figured out how they could survive winter here, likely because over the last decade or so winters have declined in their severity. This winter just happens to be one considered to be more 'traditional' to this northern hemisphere. So the robins that have accustomed themselves to staying put, must be experiencing quite the challenge to survive this winter.

Some area naturalists point out that dark-eyed juncos, whose appearance would once have been rare in the winter now winter-over, making use of winter feeders. Juncos make their regular daily appearance at our bird feeders, and we're delighted to see them. In the past we've seen robins alighting on our two miniature crab apple trees to peck at the fruit.

But it seems they have been feeding on tiny aquatic insects in areas where waters manage to run free. They feed on invertebrates in pool vegetation debris and have actually been seen to 'fish', dipping into the iced-over

stream edges to capture and consume small minnows. Catfish minnows, bullfrog and green frog tadpoles form part of their winter diet.

Who would have thought...?