The Robins have arrived in Vermilion Parish

When winter rolls around, some of us like to head to Colorado, Chicago or New York to see snow. The American Robin is opposite. The song birds fly south for the winter.
For the last 30-plus years, robins have migrated south to Louisiana and other southern states. Over the last couple of weeks, they have made their way to Vermilion Parish.
Joseph Vallee is Vermilion Parish’s bird expert. He is a birder.
“They migrate south because there is a lot of food here,” said Vallee.
Vallee could not say where the robins migrated from because they could have come from many northern states.
They are expected to stay south until March and then fly back north for the spring to nest. Their diet includes worms, berries, fruits and bugs.
Louisiana is not the only state where the robin could be found during winter months They travel throughout the southern states
The American robin is a songbird with a high-pitched, upbeat tune. The robin sings when it is hungry or to warn other robins against predators. It especially enjoys singing early in the morning, and is usually the first bird to do so at dawn.
The male robin, which has the bright orange breast, sings the loudest and is bigger than the female.
Because they are a song bird, it is illegal to shoot or kill them.
They are the state bird for three states, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Michigan.
You will never see a robin walk on the ground because they hop. Like all song birds, they hop from branch to branch in trees. So, when they get on the ground in search of food, they also hop and use more energy.
They fly 25 to 36 miles per hour. They fly faster when they migrate than from tree to tree.
Another arrival is the red wing black bird, the most populous bird in North America. Robins number more than 320 million.
The robin’s average life span is five years and some have been known to live 14 years. Bird experts say most robins die within the first year of their life.