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Family American Robin Nesting Platform Project for Maryland
From Birdhouse Building to Conservation Learning
From Birdhouse Building to Conservation Learning
I'm Sofia, and guess what? My awesome team and I created this project for our Girl Scout Bronze Award—and it's all about helping our feathered friends, the American Robins!
I built a special nesting platform (kind of like a birdie apartment!) to give robins a safe, cozy spot to raise their little families. And the best part? I’m here to help YOU build one too!
Robins are amazing backyard birds with beautiful songs, but they’re having a tough time finding places to nest because people keep cutting down trees and bushes to build houses. That’s where Robin’s Refuge comes in! It’s my custom-designed bird home with everything a robin could dream of—open space, protection from the weather, and even drainage so it doesn’t get soggy. I spent months researching and tweaking the design to make sure it really works!
Through this project, I learned something super cool: you don’t have to travel far to help nature—you can make a difference right in your own backyard. My mission is simple: show everyone (yes, even YOU!) how easy and fun it is to help robins thrive, whether you're 8 or 80.
So... are you ready to give a robin family their forever home? Let’s build something awesome together!
Perfect Family Project: Build Robin's Refuge Together
Perfect Family Project: Build Robin's Refuge Together
Sofia's Robin's Refuge design is perfect for families with kids! This hands-on construction project teaches children about bird biology, habitat needs, and conservation while creating real homes for Maryland's American Robins. Great for scout badge projects, homeschool STEM activities, and family bonding time.
What kids learn: Bird identification, ground-foraging behavior, territorial patterns, measuring and building skills, habitat requirements, and the satisfaction of helping wildlife in their own backyard.
Why the American Robin?
Why the American Robin?
I picked the American Robin because it’s a bird I see all the time—and I care about where it lives! I’ve spotted robins in my backyard, at the park, and all around my neighborhood. At first, I thought they were kind of rare, but then I realized they’re actually super common around here. Now I hear them chirping almost every day!
Watching robins made me wonder: where do they build their nests? Are they safe? That’s when I decided to do something to help. These birds might be everywhere, but their homes are disappearing—and that’s not cool. So I’m stepping up to give them a safe place to raise their baby birds!
About American Robins
About American Robins
American Robins are cheerful, familiar birds with bright red-orange breasts and dark gray heads. Some live in Maryland year-round while others migrate seasonally, nesting on platforms, in shrubs, or on ledges like my Robin's Refuge. These wonderful birds have a distinctive "run-and-stop" pattern when hunting for worms, and they're known for being among the first birds to sing each morning. In spring and summer, American Robins can raise their babies—usually 3 to 5 chicks at a time—and both parents work hard to find worms, insects, and berries to feed them. They eat earthworms, insects, and fruits, and are often the first sign that spring has arrived! American Robins are important for controlling pests and spreading seeds, but they sometimes struggle to find safe nesting spots. That's why I built Robin's Refuge—to give them a secure, weather-protected platform and teach others how to help too.
Educational Opportunities for Kids:
Practice bird identification skills with field marks (red breast, gray head, white eye-ring)
Learn about partial migration vs. year-round residents
Understand ground-foraging behavior and worm-hunting techniques
Track territorial behavior and seasonal singing patterns
Connect local birds to broader conservation concepts
Study multiple broods and extended breeding seasons
All About American Robins
All About American Robins
What is an American Robin?
American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are medium-sized songbirds found throughout Maryland. They are part of the thrush family and are known for their cheerful songs and familiar ground-hopping behavior.
What They Look Like
Size: 8-11 inches long (bigger than a sparrow, smaller than a crow!)
Weight: 2.7 ounces (about the weight of a golf ball!)
Colors: Bright red-orange breast, dark gray-black head, white eye-ring, yellow beak
Males vs. Females: Males have brighter, more vivid red breasts; females are slightly duller
Juveniles: Young robins have spotted breasts and look quite different from adults
Maryland Habitat Needs
Prefer yards, parks, and areas with short grass for hunting worms
Some robins stay in Maryland year-round, others migrate seasonally
Need platforms, ledges, or shrub crotches for nesting
Love areas with trees for singing perches and protection
Raising Young
Breeding season in Maryland: March through September
Broods per year: 2-3 broods (one of the longest breeding seasons!)
Eggs: 3-5 beautiful "robin's egg blue" eggs
Incubation: 12-14 days
Fledging: 13-16 days after hatching
Parental care: Both parents feed chicks, male often tends fledglings while female starts next brood
What They Eat
American Robins are omnivores with a varied diet! They eat earthworms (up to 14 feet of worms per day for a baby robin!), insects, caterpillars, beetles, and berries. They're famous for their "run-and-stop" hunting technique when looking for worms in the grass.
Why They Matter
Why They Matter
Natural Pest Control: American Robins eat enormous quantities of insects, caterpillars, and other garden pests. They help control grubs, beetles, and other insects that can damage lawns and gardens.
Seed Dispersal: When robins eat berries and fruits, they spread seeds to new locations, helping plants colonize new areas and maintaining forest diversity.
Soil Health: Their worm hunting helps aerate soil and indicates healthy earthworm populations, which are essential for soil health.
Educational Value: Because they're familiar and easy to observe, robins are perfect for teaching kids about bird behavior, seasonal changes, and wildlife observation.
Seasonal Indicators: Robins are often called "harbingers of spring" and help people connect with seasonal cycles and nature's rhythms.
Urban Wildlife: Their success in human-modified landscapes shows how wildlife can adapt and how simple actions can help urban birds thrive.
Amazing American Robin Science for Kids:
Amazing American Robin Science for Kids:
Early Birds: They start singing at 4:00 AM - before almost any other bird!
Magnetic Navigation: Can see Earth's magnetic field to help with migration
Worm Hunters: Use sight AND hearing to find worms underground
Multiple Families: Can raise 2-3 broods per year in Maryland
Earthworm Experts: Baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms daily!
Some Migrate, Some Stay: Maryland robins may migrate or stay year-round
Famous Eggs: "Robin's egg blue" is a well-known color!
Territorial Singers: Males sing from high perches to claim territory
Amazing Chickadee Science for Kids:
- Memory Masters: Their brains actually grow in fall to remember hundreds of food hiding spots! (Great lesson about animal adaptation)
- Smart Communicators: More "dee-dees" in their call means more danger nearby (Teaches animal communication)
- Energy Savers: They lower body temperature at night like a natural thermostat (Introduces thermoregulation concepts)
- Team Players: Join mixed flocks in winter for better survival (Demonstrates cooperation in nature)
Additional references
Additional references
Learn More:
Great Resources for Families
Cornell Lab All About Birds: American Robin - Perfect for kids learning bird identification
American Bird Conservancy - Advanced conservation info for older kids
Project NestWatch - Citizen science project specifically for monitoring nesting birds
Local Audubon Maryland-DC - Family bird watching events and education programs
Maryland Ornithological Society - Local birding groups and events
Journey North - Track robin migration patterns with kids across North America
How to Build a Robin Nesting Platform
How to Build a Robin Nesting Platform
Everything you need to build your own Robin's Refuge!
Materials List
Materials List
One 1×6 Cedar Fence Picket (actual dimensions 0.5625″ x 5.5″ x 6′)
Wood glue (I used Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive)
1” nails for nail gun or straight nails if using hammer
Tools Needed
Tools Needed
Saw (hand, miter, or circular)
Hammer or nail gun
Tape measure
Pencil
Bar clamps (to hold glued pieces together)
Level (for mounting)
Family Building Tips:
Ages 6-8: Kids can help measure platform dimensions, sand rough edges, and apply wood glue
Ages 9-13: Can help with drilling drainage holes (with supervision), assembly, and mounting preparation
Safety first: Adult supervision required for all power tools
Learning opportunity: Teach kids about open platform design vs. enclosed nest boxes and why robins prefer different nest types
Species-Specific Notes
Species-Specific Notes
Why These Dimensions Matter for American Robins:
Why These Dimensions Matter for American Robins:
Open platform design: Robins prefer open nests, not enclosed boxes - they need easy access from multiple directions
7" x 8" minimum platform: Provides enough space for robin nest cup and 3-5 chicks
Roof overhang: Essential for protecting nest from rain while maintaining open access
6" entrance height: Provides protection while allowing robin-sized birds easy access
Drainage holes: Critical for open platform design to prevent water accumulation
Mounting height: 6-15 feet high in sheltered location away from direct wind
Nesting Behavior
Nesting Behavior
Season: March through September in Maryland (2-3 broods possible!)
Nest material: Mud cup lined with grass, rootlets, and soft materials
Eggs: 3-5 beautiful blue eggs ("robin's egg blue")
Incubation: 12-14 days
Location preference: Sheltered spots with nearby open ground for foraging, 6-15 feet high
We gave our birdhouse a trial run by placing it in a nearby tree, because robins love open spaces with lots of plants and shrubs around to feel safe and cozy. But we’re not stopping there! We’re planning to install our Robin’s Refuge birdhouses in a bunch of different spots so our robin friends have plenty of options to choose from.
Turn Your Robin's Refuge into a Learning Lab
Turn Your Robin's Refuge into a Learning Lab
Family Observation Activities:
Dawn Chorus Study: Record what time robins start singing each morning throughout the seasons
Worm Hunting Behavior: Time the "run-and-stop" pattern and count worms caught
Multiple Brood Tracking: Document how many broods your platform hosts each season
Territorial Mapping: Map where male robins sing from to establish their territories
Citizen Science: Report nesting success to eBird, NestWatch, or Project NestWatch
Seasonal Diet Study: Compare what robins eat in different seasons (worms vs. berries)
Migration Patterns: Track which robins stay year-round vs. which ones migrate
Nest Building Documentation: Photograph the stages of nest construction and mud application
Perfect for: Scout nature badges, homeschool biology units, family science projects, and teaching kids about wildlife observation ethics and territorial behavior.
Why this matters
Why this matters
I really want the American Robin population to grow—and I’m worried they won’t have enough places to nest in the future. That’s why I started this project: it’s one small step toward giving these birds a better chance!
Honestly, the hardest part was planning the nest platform. Getting the measurements just right was tricky! Robins are kind of picky when it comes to their nests (like tiny feathered architects), so I wanted to make sure mine was the perfect size for them to actually use.
Even though robins are common around here, they still need our help. With all the new houses popping up in my neighborhood, trees are being cut down—and that’s bad news for birds who rely on those trees to build their nests. This project means a lot to me because it’s not just about helping robins—it’s also about raising awareness about habitat loss and the importance of trees.
Birds losing their homes is a big deal. If they disappear, it affects everything! Birds help spread seeds, grow new trees and flowers, and keep nature in balance. And guess what? Trees help us too—they give us oxygen to breathe!
So let’s work together to protect our environment. Helping birds helps everyone—and it starts right in our own backyards!
From Robin's Refuge to Complete Conservation
From Robin's Refuge to Complete Conservation
Building an American Robin platform is just the beginning of your family's conservation adventure:
1. Start Here: Build Sofia's Robin's Refuge design
2. Add Habitat: Plant native Maryland plants that produce berries and attract earthworms
3. Expand Impact: Build houses for other Maryland bird species
4. Track Success: Join citizen science projects to document your results
5. Teach Others: Share your experience with other families
American Robins in Maryland: What Kids Should Know
American Robins in Maryland: What Kids Should Know
Maryland-Specific Facts:
Year-round residents: Some Maryland robins stay all year, others migrate - kids can track which ones do what!
Winter behavior: Form large flocks in winter, often found in wooded areas eating berries
Extended breeding season: March through September in Maryland - one of the longest breeding seasons
Maryland habitats: Found throughout the state from urban Baltimore to rural Eastern Shore
Seasonal adaptations: Switch from worms in spring/summer to berries in fall/winter
Conservation status: Stable and common in Maryland, great example of successful urban bird
Great for teaching kids about: Partial migration, seasonal diet changes, multiple broods, territorial behavior, and how common birds can still benefit from human help.
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