The Weird Ways Animals Tell Us Spring Is Here

findingdulcinea.com/news/science ^ | March 23, 2009 | Haley A. Lovett

[chimera]

Beautiful pic. I love those little guys. Lots of cardinals around here. I hear the males start chirping in late January, calling to their mates, announcing to the world that Spring is on the way once again, that he will mate and build a nest and raise a brood. The endless chain of life.

All creatures great and small,
The Lord God made them all...

[Daffynition]

You call tell by the haberdashery.

[wxgesr]

I feel like a toad, get laid once a year whether I want it or not.

[brytlea]

I think cardinals are much more beautiful than the redwings, but we don’t have as many here. In the spring, the redwings sing that little trilly song and it is SOOOO beautiful! I love the cardinals dripping water song, but we just don’t see more than a few a year (altho I hear more are starting to nest down here rather than go north—just like New Yorkers!)

[brytlea]

[Joe 6-pack]

[wxgesr]

Yea baby!

[brytlea]

But I’m sure you have a lovely singing voice!

[rintense]

Yep, I know its Spring by the number of possums and skunks that are killed on the road by my house. Been quite a few in the past three weeks.

[Redleg Duke]

I see that the woodchucks are coming out to sleep in a pool of blood along the road. It is a sure sign of spring!

[Salamander]

“salamander love songs”

It’s not for nothing that some of us are called sirens.....8:)

[JoeProBono]

[Salamander]

ROTFLMAO!

*perfect*

[JoeProBono]

[SonnyBubba]

Sure sign of spring. The spring breakers come and the snowbirds go home.

[Salamander]

I know that spring is here when the Starlings come back.

[the Robins drag in a few weeks later]

My own personal “sign” are my willows.

*Normally* they put out buds in late February but since all this “global warming” stuff started, they’re waiting until mid-March.

Right now, they have *tiny* leaves which are not growing...as if they’re suspicious of sticking their heads out, only to be hit by yet another sub-freezing night.

Just 6 or 7 years ago, we’d already be out riding the Harleys on 70-80 degree days and still riding into late October-early November.

[Blasted global warming’s nearly frozen us to death]

[brytlea]

I have not seen a robin here at all. I don't think I've ever lived where they are numerous. And instead of starlings we have scads of grackles!

[Salamander]

I, for one, welcome our new Amphibian Overlords.

[Daffynition]

[chimera]

Yeah, they seem to like the cooler climes. I sure love that brilliant red of the male cardinal against the white snow of a winter day. Brightens things up, for sure.

I get a lot of them at my feeders in the mornings and evenings. The only problem they have is shyness. I get some jays also and while I love their showy colors and jaunty crest, they sure are bullies. The other birds know who's boss when the blue jays come around. The cardinals tend to beat a hasty retreat.

I've seen some of the male cardinals feeding their mates. Must be getting close to breeding season...