March Comes in Like a Lion!

March roared in like a lion on the 1st with over 12 inches of blowing and drifting snow, but it's already becoming a little sheepish. On MDI snow in open areas is all but gone, persisting in forests and snow plow mountains. Recent storms mix snow, sleet and rain, teasing us with one last chance to preserve some snowflakes before winter's a memory. Some winter birds remain, like Northern Shrikes, Tree Sparrows, Evening Grosbeaks and a few Pine Grosbeaks. But winter's clearly on the wane.

March and April are always lions up in the night sky. Just "punch a hole in the bottom of the Big Dipper" and you'll arrive at Leo the Lion, his mane resembling a backwards question mark. An active solar wind is now hitting earth's magnetic field and strong auroras are forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Tonight looks clear, so keep watch!

Signs of spring are everywhere!
Common goldeneyes can be seen around Bar Island and sometimes one can catch them doing their head tossing courtship display.
Herring Gulls are also starting to "like" each other more.
Hooded Mergansers have begun to move to ponds with open patches of water,
While river otters are having fun cavorting on the ice at the Tarn.
Crows seem to have paired up. Eagles have been seen doing aerial courtship displays.
Best of all, to me....Redwing Blackbirds are starting to return to the thawing north!
And Grackles too! Their bronze blue plumage and striking golden eyes are a sight for my sore eyes.
Folks have seen Blue Jays and Cardinals nuptial feeding; i.e., gently passing a tidbit to their intended's beak.
Twigs of Red-osier Dogwood have become bright scarlet and

Red Maple buds look fire hydrant red.
Weeping willow branches have turned golden.

Warming days and frosty nights- can the maple sap run be far behind?

Enjoy this special season of late winter/early spring. There's much more than mud to look forward to! Keep your eyes and ears peeled for:
- the first waking woodchuck
- chipmunks at your feeder
- woodcocks will be back soon - listen for them peenting at twilight
- when will the first wood frogs quack this year?
- and place your bets on "Big Night" when scads of salamanders slither from the woods to chilly vernal pools to breed will occur this year. It happens during the first warm night rains and is a spectacle not to be missed!
- and check the marshes for the first flower of spring - skunk cabbage melting its way through the snow.

Thanks for your reports from the field and please keep them coming!
The Dorr Museum of Natural History