Surprised? It is so hard to not love them all, for different reasons, yes? :)
It is probably in part because of the time and energy involved in migrating south, and the availability of food sources. We don't get too cold here in Washinton, DC and if they have food, they will stay. It is also warmer in the winter than it used to be.
The freak of nature was we had a late winter storm that came after the migratory birds came back and even had babies! See how little they are? Everywhere on the East Coast was littered with robins that were out of season.
It made me sad just to watch them. I fed them and put food out, it was all we could do.
Well I wouldn't say all you could do. It makes me think of the story of the starfish. Do you know it? The food you feed makes a difference to every single ONE