Spring is officially here

I just saw my first Bluebird, which is perched in the Kentucky Coffee Tree outside my office window. For me this is the official beginning of spring. Yeayyy!

I hear the redwing blackbird staking out his territory on the pond (which is still ice bound), haven't seen him, but I got faith, I've heard his word. This is my harbinger. Ken

Maackia, My bluebirds have been here since Mar. 17th. I was really glad to see them when I got back home from Reno. As soon as I saw them I called Grubco and ordered 1000 mealworms and asked them to be sure they arrived here by Mar. 24 and the box was sitting on my doorstep. I put a few in the feeder Sat. morning after I called them, Went back to check a little later and they hadn't eaten any worms, then I looked closer and understood why they hadn't . There were 3 yellowjacket bees in the feeder and they were smart enough not to go in. i killed the bees and the bluebirds ate the worms almost immediately. I am sure it is the same pair that was here last year because they flew right in as soon as I called them.

The blackbirds have been eating bird seed for a couple of weeks. The nearest water is the small lake about a mile south of me, but the blackbirds like my yard anyway.

DonnaS

Donna, that is because to them, and in fact to we who have seen it in other threads, it is a veritable garden of eden. Ken

The male Red-Wing Blackbirds have been here for about three weeks staking their claims. The Robins appeared about a week ago. I noticed that Crocus pushed up about the same time the Red-Wing Blackbirds showed up. The best sign of spring for me is when my Chipmunks appear. I have two Chippies scurrying around out there as of earlier this week and I should have more very shortly.

I never thought about it, but Redwing Blackbirds never visit my place. The nearest water is the Eau Claire River about one mile from me...maybe that has something to do with it. A bird I used to see all the time as a kid was Meadow Lark. I can't remember the last time I heard the sweet song of ML. Anyone see these?

I looked up yesterday as I was about to pass our from exhaustion from digging, and I saw a vulture circling really low overhead, cocking his head and looking at me. He was close enough that I could see his beady eyes. Does that mean it's spring, or just that the dang scavenger thought I was about to die?

Guy S.

Guy, animals react to SCENT, not sight - did you possibly smell dead?! LOL

Yeah, probably close to it, after a sweaty day out there. But believe me, he was cocking his head and LOOKING at me, not just smelling me!

By the way, do you ever run into Shortleaf out there in Independence?

Well, lunch is over -- back to the great outdoors . . .

Guy S.

Our redwings are down the gravel road in the ditch. Sometimes they have water, right now they don't. It's all soaking in.The robins are going to get serious about nesting shortly. Spring for me is the oriole. Second week in May.