Signs Of Spring

Seems I may have jumped the gun on the whole early arrival of spring! The thaw reversed itself, snow has fallen on more than a few occasions and a brisk wind from the north has really put us in our place!

But maybe things are once and for all turning around. 

This week the “signs” of spring are a little more definitive. Not just run-off and activity by our indigenous, year-round residents, but travelers to the southern climes have started returning and begun to set up their summer homes.

There are many raptors and birds of prey that set up home in our neighborhood. Some are year-round residents. But some stay for a season, migrating year after year, yet somehow return over thousands of miles to set up home where they had the year before, or their ancestors had generations and maybe thousands of years prior to them. This week I’ve seen the return of the Turkey Vultures and a few of our other migrating raptors.

  

We see the Red-Tailed Hawk throughout the year; they seem to find the climate hospitable. Prey is always there.

But one bird of prey, common in the summer months and late into the autumn is rarely seen in the harsh times winter brings upon this landscape.

The Northern Harrier seems to be one of those birds of prey that chooses to migrate to more temperate climes in search of food. But as the soil beneath our feet warms, and the streams open up, the Harrier heads north and begins, once again to hunt in more northern climates.

        

On the same walk this week I also saw this year’s first Robin. That’s always a good sign for me. I also saw my first Red-Winged Blackbird. Both of these creatures herald the arrival of spring in not only their presence but with the songs they sing!

Maybe it’s the sounds and tunes heard that assure me of the rebirth that is sure to happen. Sometimes it’s the noise, the

activity and a rambunctiousness amongst God’s little creatures that gives me hope that new life is but a short, optimistic breath away!  

    

Signs...

Spring is just about two weeks away, and the signs are there. I’m not going to dredge up all the metaphors or silly cliches, not all of them, just some of them. Spring is rebirth, new beginnings, the promise new life, a freshness, revitalization. 

A short walk in the woods is all one needs to see this.

This past week was fresh with the signs of spring. The first indicator for me is always the thaw and subsequent run-off. The local streams have opened up and are flowing, all but their shores are free of ice. Soon the only ice and snow remaining will be in the heavily shaded areas of the woods. 

Other signs this week were in the fauna. The first wooly bear caterpillar of the year. All the turkeys in the local flock seem to be hens and jakes. The toms have gone lone-wolf and will soon be gathering their harems. 

This spring though, is significant. This spring brings not only a new beginning, but also a change. In less than a month I’ll be a considerable distance north. Deep in the boreal forests nestled on the Canadian Shield, Aimee and I, and of course the dogs, will start a new life, a new season in our adventures. Instead of seeing deer and wild turkeys on our walks, we will be seeing black bears, moose and spruce grouse. We will be fishing for brook trout instead of bass. 

Spring comes late to where we’re settling. I’ll get to see it arrive twice!