By Terry W. Johnson - Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources

American robin. (Photo: Lee Karney/USFWS)
As far as Georgia winters go, 2020-2021 hasn’t been too bad. But combined with the pandemic, it seemed long and bleak and left us all longing for signs of spring.
Many Americans believe that seeing a flock of robins descend on their backyard is one of those signs. However, those of us who have lived most of our lives in the Peach State realize that’s not the case.
In truth, we are far more likely to see more robins in winter than in spring, summer and fall combined. …
Read Terry’s column to learn more about these seemingly familiar birds.
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American Bald Eagle Population Quadruples Since 2009 U.S. Dept. of the Interior

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Good news this week for an American icon; a new report from the Fish and Wildlife Service shows the population of the American bald eagle has quadrupled since 2009. Bald eagles once teetered on the brink of extinction, but new estimates show their population in the lower-48 states has increased to well over 300-thousand, with more than 71-thousand nesting pairs. Secretary Haaland applauded the news and said Interior will use all of the tools at its disposal, including key provisions of the Endangered Species Act, to conserve America's natural heritage and strengthen the economy.
Read more.
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Berry College Nest Failure Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources
The death of an eaglet and a second egg that did not hatch ended the nesting season for eagles followed on Berry College’s popular nest cam.
The adult female, new to the nest and apparently inexperienced at raising young, did not feed the chick regularly and left it uncovered during wet, cold weather. The other egg likely wasn’t viable.
The good news for Berry cam fans: Inexperienced eagles learn from their mistakes raising young. Moms do a better job tearing food into small pieces for eaglets (which can't feed themselves until 5-6 weeks old), balling their feet so talons don’t puncture the eggs and gently maneuvering their feet and bodies around eggs during brooding.
Video: Berry College's Dr. Renee Carleton discusses the live-streamed eagles.