No longer quite the harbingers of spring they once were, Robins still hold that place in most people's imaginations. In reality, nowdays these cheery, social birds often stay year around in the gardens and yards of humans where feed and open water are available. (It is those factors, not the lowering temperature that caused their migrations in times past.)Naturalists say one sure sign of seasonal change that is still apparent, are migrating waterfowl heading back north in v-formations overhead.

The day I stood looking through the french doors while painting this scene, there were no robins in sight, though they are frequent visitors. I added them from memory. Oh, and the fence? It's really chain link. Artistic license!And the bush on the left? It was actually on the other side of that fence and across the alley. But I still stood there and painted it all!