Berry Cold

    Once every winter, robins appear in my yard. Hunger leads them there. They devour the berries on a holly tree, and move on.
    These birds show up when the weather gets harsh. Often that means January. But not this winter. They arrived yesterday, following back-to-back snow storms and during a cold snap.
   From what I’ve learned, robins don’t care for the flavor of holly berries. They’re eaten out of necessity. Other food sources are tapping out. And perhaps the birds’ metabolisms need a boost to generate warmth.
   When robins eat holly berries, it indicates that we’re in the guts of the winter.