Spring almost here, at least the birds think so! by Curtis Smalling
Latest Update: March 7, 2010
This cold little guy (Eastern Screech Owl) was riding out a recent storm.
Now that temperatures are moderating and the snow is melting, a lot of birds are on the move and feeling the impending arrival of spring. And not a moment too soon for me. I don't know about everyone else, but I am ready to hear some singing and see some color other than white (and dirty snow piles).
Our first hint of things to come happened last week when Janet Palmer had a great day at Trout Lake with a lot of migrant species that tend to overwinter at the coast and slip up the mountains in early March. So right on schedule were Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, and Black-and-white Warbler. Waterfowl like Buffleheads, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Canada Geese, and Pied-billed Grebes are also around as our lakes unfreeze.
My local Red-tailed Hawk pair are seriously courting right now with the female refurbishing the nest and the male generally trying to win her heart all over again by bringing her sticks. A few years back I watched a male bring his mate three or four sticks that she rejected and dropped to the ground before taking one from him, poor fellow. Some of our Robins are seeming to stick around and may be our local breeders. Not much singing from them yet but this week of warmer weather should get them going. Large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Starlings, and Common Grackles are around now, as are migrant flocks of Cedar Waxwings.
Some things to look out for in March include the return of Brown Thrashers widely across the county. Here at my house for the past forty years the first singer cranks up around March 23rd. Usually within a day or two either side of that date. Also March and early April is gull time in the High Country. There are already good numbers of gulls leaving Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkes to hang out at the Wal-mart parking lot (in Wilkes) and we will see migrant flocks of mostly Ring-billed Gulls this month and next sporadically here in the Boone area. Also we normally get a big pulse of Fox Sparrows at feeders and in shrubby places the last half of March so be on the lookout.
For more information on birds in the High Country call the Watauga Birding Hotline at 828-265-0198. Also visit www.ncaudubon.org, www.carolinabirdclub.org, and the new High Country Chapter website at http://www.highcountryaudubon.org/.
Even the crows are ready for some bare ground I think.
This Wilson's Snipe was hanging out at the National Guard Armory yard. I love the streaking on their backs.
These Killdeer at Optimist Fields had each found (or made) a bare spot to roost in overnight. Look for good numbers of Killdeer widespread across the county now.
