Robin...Harbinger of Spring?

Most of us grew up hearing from our parents or our grandparents something similar to "The Robins have arrived it must be spring" Many of us still believe that, and will defend our right to believe it to the death or at least to the very extent of arguing about it. I will set the record straight....no, it does not mean that spring has arrived with the first spotting of the robin. In fact those robins have been around all winter...well, maybe not those exact same robins, but certainly robins. In all probability the robins we had around all spring and summer did migrate a little further south, but then the ones who reside up north came south to our area, so in effect we have robins year around. For most of us seeing these lovely singers, brightens our spirit and represents the ending of a long cold winter. Even though I know they are here year round, I will stick to my right to believe that spring is right around the corner.