This is the beginning of my favorite time of year. From now until it get's too hot and the bugs come out, the climate is perfect. I love watching everything come to life.

All the migratory birds seem to be back in the area. Yesterday, there were red winged black birds at the front feeder. That is very rare. The only other time that has happened was a few years ago, when a freak snowstorm in May deprived the red winged black birds of their usual forage. I have seen the local crows mating and running off red tailed hawks. They are also picking up fur that was brushed off Hanna. Their chicks will have a nice cozy German Shepherd fur lined nest.

I'll try to keep a running documentation as spring unfolds; and synchronoze it with photos posted at www.davelaporte.com

This is an exciting time of year here. The Vernal Equinox of March 20 is fast approaching. Every day there is another indicator of the impending change of seasons, with everything coming to life.

The robins are back in the yard. If you have been reading this earlier blogs, you know that they did not go far away. House finches and song sparrows are back at the feeders. The birds that never left, mourning doves, gold finches, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue jays, cardinals, crows, kestrels, etc, are seeming more busy as they prepare to multiply.

With this winter's above average snowfall, the forest will be very wet. Still, with all the snow and ice, it's difficult to imagine that in just a few weeks, reptiles and amphibians will emerge along with the wild flowers.

Although it is cold and snowy, there are several signs that spring is slowly approaching. For over a month, the Cardinals have been calling for mates.They were joined a few weeks ago by the Chickadees. And the Horned Larks are staking out their turf by sitting in the snow.

On the morning walks, Hanna and I have been seeing parallel fox tracks in the snow. A few days ago, we spotted their fox holes. They are ready to make more foxes for spring. The most noticable harbinger of spring is Hanna herself. She is shedding profusely. The hair is in everything.

While the ice and single digit temperatures make it seem distant, within weeks, I will be patrolling the marshes listening to the Spring Peepers call.

Hi.

There seems to be a strong misconception locally about robins. Each March, I am often informed of the sighting of the first robin of spring. The clear implication is that they have gone somewhere. It is widely believed that, like many other species, robins migrate south for the winter. This idea is promoted by the usual absence of these birds from many yards and patios during the winter months. While it is true that they migrate, Robins do not go far. It's not cold weather that drives them from our lawns and gardens. Robins seem to hold up well in very frigid conditions, as long as they have plenty to eat. Once the ground has frozen, the grubs, worms and other crawly things robins eat in back yards are no longer available. This drives them to the dense growth of berries found in the local forests. A winter trek into the woods will usually lead to a group of about 40 robins congregating among stands of fruit bearing trees.

Today's walk in the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area was typical... up to a point. Hanna the Wonder Dog and I set out in mid afternoon. It was about 12 F. There were no other people in the forest. We could hear and then see dozens of robins flitting between the trees. But there was more. Some of the birds had little crests on their heads. A large group of brightly colored Cedar Waxwings were mixed in with the robins. It was quite spectacular. While not rare, Cedar Waxwings are not often observed in the area. But on those few occasions, they are always in large groups. It's amazing that the local forest is sufficiently bountiful to produce enough feed for such a large contingent of birds to consume all winter until the bugs come out.

Stay tuned.

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