Songs and Signs of Spring

Down here in the the Deep South, the signs and songs of spring begin to show themselves in what would be considered late winter for the rest of the country. It is not uncommon to have Taiwan Cherry tree and Wild Blueberry (Huckleberry, Vaccinium spp.) flowers in late January or Paper White Narcissus and other jonquils outside in full bloom by early February. The Carolina Chickadees and the Carolina Wrens begin staking out nest sites during this time, too. We love our early spring, because we know that within a month or so the temperatures will be up into the 80's and summer type weather will be upon us by May.

In this tribute to spring, we have gathered and featured a few of our pages about nature, gardening, birds, animals and spring, as well as some of our favorite photos, poems and quotes. We hope you enjoy them. Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

"The Hills are alive with the sound of music" and so are the fields and the forests near our home in southeastern Louisiana. The music is especially apparent during spring. Most noticeable are the songs of the male birds as they proclaim their territorial boundaries and sing their best songs in hopes of attracting a mate.

In our habitat on the Tchefuncte River, we have a trail of bird nest boxes of various sizes which are used by a many different species of cavity nesting birds and mammals. In late winter and early spring we visit each nest box on our trail to make sure that they are all ready for the upcoming breeding season. We will monitor them each week from late February through July. After July, most of the birds that nest in our area have completed their nesting cycle (although the Carolina Wrens often have a third or even a fourth nest, they are an exception).

Some of the earliest birds to nest on the trail are Carolina Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens and Eastern Screech Owls. Brown-headed Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, Prothonotary Warblers, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Wood Ducks nest later in April and May. In the wooded areas Flying Squirrels will also use the boxes to raise their young and occasionally young bats will roost in them.

Bird Songs are one of the joys of spring. Learn to recognize the beautiful birds of North America by their songs with Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs and CD.

Besides the cavity nesting birds that use the boxes on our nest box trail, we have many beautiful birds nesting in the trees and shrubs on our property. Some of our favorites include the Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, Pine Warbler, Mourning Dove and Red Shouldered Hawk.

Though their apearance is not as showy as some, in my book, Northern Mockingbirds are one of the most beautiful songsters in our habitat. In spring, male Mockingbirds sit high in trees and go through a repertoire of sounds and songs that would make an opera singer envious.

Oh, there's music

In the forests

And there's music

In the glen

As the birds

Are warbling greetings

To the spring

That's come again.

All their piping

Is so merry

That the woodlands

Seem to ring

With the praises

Of the bird Songs

For the coming

Of the spring.

Join the joyous

Woodland chorus

And raise high

Your voice in cheer--

Join the bird songs

In thanksgiving

For the springtime

Of the year.

Anonymous

Reference: Poetry Place Anthology by Instructor Books, 1983.

Birds are not the only creatures to welcome the vernal equinox. As soon as the weather warms, thousands of frogs and toad calls ring out from the fields and forests. As the world awakens from its winter nap, crickets and other insects begin to chirp at night. I enjoy these signs of spring.

I sit by the window

and watch the breeze

tingle the leaves

on all the trees.

I sit by the window

and hear the wind sing,

carrying spring,

making air ring.

Wind! Wind! Blow me a song.

Toss me a ship from the sea.

Fling me a willow tree tall and strong.

Whirl the world closer to me.

Reference: Poetry Place Anthology by Instructor Books, 1983.

Spring is the time when our yard is at it's peak. We concentrate on native plants and old-fashioned, pass-along flowers and so many of these bloom in spring. The fifty year old camellia japonica shrubs start blooming in January and continue on through March. The native and oriental azaleas follow in February and March along with an assortment of wildflowers that really put on a show. Check out the lenses below to take a virtual tour of our yard. You also may enjoy the Folsom Native Plant Society website where you'll find many more photos of the beautiful native plants of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.

When Spring came,

Leaves grew with a green fresh feeling,

And the warmth of the sun

Was beginning to be felt,

And the Animals of the Earth

Awoke, breathing the fresh new smell

Of life all over again.

It's like the wind,

Gently blowing,

Making love to everything

Before it moves on

Yet returning.

Reference: Poetry Place Anthology by Instructor Books, 1983.