Heralds of Spring

By Terry Krautwurst
Published on April 1, 2007
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Red-winged blackbirds are one of the most common and widespread birds in the United States and Canada. Each spring, the males stake out breeding territories and defend them from other males by flashing their bright-red shoulder patches and repeatedly singing out conkaREEEEE!
Red-winged blackbirds are one of the most common and widespread birds in the United States and Canada. Each spring, the males stake out breeding territories and defend them from other males by flashing their bright-red shoulder patches and repeatedly singing out conkaREEEEE!
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In fall and winter, red-winged blackbirds travel in huge flocks, raiding farm fields and grain lots in dark, swirling clouds (though they also consume hordes of harmful insects).
In fall and winter, red-winged blackbirds travel in huge flocks, raiding farm fields and grain lots in dark, swirling clouds (though they also consume hordes of harmful insects).
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Pity the poor dandelion — a legitimate spring wildflower that most blaspheme as a weed.
Pity the poor dandelion — a legitimate spring wildflower that most blaspheme as a weed.
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Spring azure butterflies are the first butterflies to emerge, transformed, from a long winter’s pupal sleep in hard-shelled chrysalises.
Spring azure butterflies are the first butterflies to emerge, transformed, from a long winter’s pupal sleep in hard-shelled chrysalises.
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On early spring days, painted turtles newly emerged from hibernation rest on pond-side rocks or logs, basking in the season’s renewing sun.
On early spring days, painted turtles newly emerged from hibernation rest on pond-side rocks or logs, basking in the season’s renewing sun.
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No mushrooms are as fervently sought after as morels, woodland delicacies that in most regions show themselves in spring for only about three weeks.
No mushrooms are as fervently sought after as morels, woodland delicacies that in most regions show themselves in spring for only about three weeks.
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Hardly to be dreaded, true final frosts make the new season all the more beautiful.
Hardly to be dreaded, true final frosts make the new season all the more beautiful.
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Spring azure butterflies are just one of nature’s most colorful signals that spring has sprung.
Spring azure butterflies are just one of nature’s most colorful signals that spring has sprung.
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A true spring frost protects plants, as opposed to a freeze, which causes cell walls to expand and burst.
A true spring frost protects plants, as opposed to a freeze, which causes cell walls to expand and burst.
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Don’t hate dandelions — these wildflowers feed bugs beneficial to gardens.
Don’t hate dandelions — these wildflowers feed bugs beneficial to gardens.
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Look for morel mushrooms after warm rains, especially at the bases of old trees.
Look for morel mushrooms after warm rains, especially at the bases of old trees.
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This baby painted turtle will grow up to engage in one of nature’s most graceful courtship rituals.
This baby painted turtle will grow up to engage in one of nature’s most graceful courtship rituals.

Winter has its pleasures, true, but most of us tend to get our fill of frosty crunch and hearty hearths before the year’s first month is spent. Then comes the waiting, the yearning for greener seasons. By any measure other than the calendar, dreary February is our longest month, not our shortest, and March seems to plod, not march, to the vernal equinox.

Little wonder, then, that when spring finally does come around, its hallmark heralds — sweet, cleansing rains and blooms bursting with newborn color — bring joy to our souls. But April’s showers and May’s flowers are only the tip of the no-more-snow-and-ice berg: Here are a few other certain signs that — ah, at last! — nature’s new year really has begun.

Red-Winged Turf Warriors

Unless you live in the frozen Far North, you are probably not far from a red-winged blackbird, one of the most common and widespread birds in the continental United States and Canada. In fall and winter they travel with other blackbirds in huge raucous flocks, raiding farm fields and grain lots in dark, swirling clouds (though they also consume hordes of harmful insects).

But in early spring the male red-wings form bachelor flocks and shift from feeding grounds to breeding grounds, most often marshes and brushy meadows. Each male stakes out a territory of about a quarter of an acre by striking a pose that is a sure announcement of the season — and a clear warning to other males to steer clear. Riding atop a swaying bough or cattail, he spreads his wings, flashes his bright-red shoulder patches, and repeatedly sings out: conkaREEEEE!

Unlike the showy spring displays of males from many other species, the red-winged’s is all about claiming turf rather than seducing a mate. In fact, a mate is the last thing a male desires. Red-winged blackbirds are among the minuscule 2 percent of all bird species that are polygynous: males mate with multiple females during the same breeding season.

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