I was pleasantly surprised to come across a small flock of American Robins ice fishing at Hermitage Park earlier this month. These robins that overwinter at the park have taught themselves how to ice fish. Even amid this bounty of food, squabbles sometimes broke out as some of the dominant robins tried to monopolize the fishing holes, and would chase away other robins coming close.
(Taken on: Hermitage Park, Edmonton, Alberta)
Nikon D500 w/ 500mmf4G
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American Robin-cum-Sashimi connoisseur
It's a delight to watch some of these robins ice-fishing! They are seen pulling sticklebacks out of small openings on the edge of the pond that've stayed unfrozen, while trying to guard the area by chasing away other birds!
Nikon 500mm F4G + 1.4X
(Taken on Jan, 2020, Hermitage Park, Edmonton, Alberta)
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American Robin @ Hermitage Park : Finding food in winter.
It is not common for American Robins to eat fish, but the robins at Hermitage Park are seen pulling minnows out of small ice openings near the edge of the pond that've stayed unfrozen.
(Taken on Feb. 27, 2019, Hermitage Park, Edmonton, Alberta)
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American Robins eat fish. Quite a novelty.
Feb. 2019 Archive.
The American Robins that overwintered in Hermitage Park in our city ate berries and other fruits left over on trees and shrubs. They were also seen catching and pulling minnows out of small ice openings on the edge of ponds that stayed partially frozen.
It was interesting how these resourceful Robins had adapted to our climes. They had taught themselves how to 'ice fish' and found an excellent protein food source in the wintertime.
This individual stood over its 'fishing hole', jealously guarding it and would chase away other robins coming close.
(Taken on: Feb. 2019, Hermitage Park, Edmonton, Alberta)
The light was poor and I had to shoot at high ISO.
300mmf4D+1.4X; f5.6; +1EV; ISO 4000
(Lightroom 6.0)
Thank you all very much for the visits and comments.
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Fish eating Robin is quite a novelty.
The American Robins' diets are primarily insects and worms in the summer months when those are common and abundant. But in the winter months, insects are hard to find.
In one of our city's parks, a small flock of robins that overwintered there was seen pulling minnows out of small ice openings near the edge of the pond that were partially frozen.
The lack of insect protein diet may explain why these resourceful robins had taught themselves how to ice fish, and found themselves an excellent food source in winter.
Taken on: March, 2022, Hermitage Park, Edmonton, Alberta.
Nikon D500 w/ 500 f4G; f7.1; 1/2000; -1/3EV; ISO 800
DR5 Right-angle viewfinder.
Lightroom 6.0
Thank you very much for the visit and comment.
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