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Science of the Everyday: Why Earthworms Surface

Spring is close at hand in New England, which means were getting a lot of rain and the robins are out in force. Youve certainly seen flocks of the orange-breasted birds out on a wet lawn running and stopping, running and stopping, then pouncing on a worm. It's a common springtime scene; but why exactly do the worms come out when it rains and expose themselves to hungry birds? Robins are among the first each year to breed and lay eggs. Chances are, if you see robins during in the spring, theyre already making nests. And while they feed on a variety of invertebrates, fruits, and seeds, they prefer earthworms for their young.