I can also tell it is winter when my inbox gets flooded with inquiries about robins ... these ubiquitous birds. Let’s start with the myth that robins are a sign of spring.

Signs of the coming of spring are appearing everywhere. So far, I’ve seen robins, red-winged blackbirds, killdeers, herring gulls, grackles, great-blue herons, geese, chipmunks, geese and others.