I don't think there's much truth in it, but there is a sort of
explanation that I've heard, that goes like this: The robins
make their quick sprints so as to "sound like raindrops hitting
the ground" and then stop to see if any worms are stupid enough
to believe it. Presumably only worms that have lived through a
rain shower would respond to this - I don't know. :)

bob mauritsen
Green Lake
Seattle
bluetooth at csi.com


MBlanchrd at aol.com wrote:
>
>
> Hi, Tweeters,
>
> At the risk of beginning another thread, (I'm not sure if it's been done before).....
> Today, my coworkers, knowing I'm a birder, asked me that age old question..are robins LOOKING for worms, or LISTENING for worms? We watched as several robins found worms in what I thought was soil far too compacted.
>
> One of my co-workers even theorized that the robins can feel the vibrations of the worms through their (the robins) feet.
>
> I can't answer their question, because I've always wondered, too.....how do robins find worms?
> Anyone out there want to tackle this?
>
> Michelle
> MBlanchrd at aol.com