According to the calendar the first day of spring or the Spring Equinox, Latin for "equal night" has now taken place. This is the day on which the length of the day and the night are very nearly equal in all parts of the world. Whether we believe that spring has actually arrived or not, (Mother Nature has been especially capricious) there is cause for celebration because the northern hemisphere is now beginning to tilt towards the sun, so our days will grow longer and warmer.(at which time we will likely complain about the heat) Winter-weary Canadians begin to search for evidence that there might be a season besides 'the frozen time' and hope that maybe some sunshine will clear up the coughs that seem to have taken up permanent residence in the population.
So I went in search of evidence. Spring brings many bird populations to our area; some are just passing through on their way further north, but many arrive here to nest and raise their families over the warm months. Trumpeter swans pause annually on this local pond for a short time. Apparently, by 1886, trumpeter swans, the largest largest waterfowl in North America, were extinct in Ontario, but a restoration program which began in 1982 has resulted in a healthy and self-sustaining population.
This banded bird might be from the program in Wye Marsh, or LaSalle Park in Burlington, but having been raised in this protected way, these birds are not quite wild and have to learn migration behaviours. This one has found a perfect pond to summer on, with lots of reeds for nest building and safety, and water shallow enough to tip to the bottom to feed. Hard to believe that just 40 years ago I would not have seen this beautiful bird here.
Southern Ontario is both a breeding ground and an overwintering area for Canada Geese, so it is a bit hard to tell whether the large vees of geese in the skies right now, are coming or going.(not unlike how I feel by times) What is known, is that they mate for life and return to familiar nesting areas. They will be about that business very shortly so the goslings will be mature enough to fly come the fall.
Turkey vultures, who over-winter as far away as South America, are starting to return to their northerly breeding areas. They are so graceful as they circle effortlessly on the thermals, however up close, they are somewhat less, uh, prepossessing. Interestingly, the scientific name for turkey vultures is Cathartes aura, Latin for 'cleansing breeze', which is slightly unexpected, however, far from being a source of disease, vultures actually reduce the spread of disease. Clearly an avian lesson in judging the book by its cover.
Wild turkeys are not related to turkey vultures but the two are sometimes confused because of similarities in colour or shape. Spring brings groups of turkeys out of the forest not just to forage, but to begin mating rituals during which the toms strut their stuff with chests swollen and tails in full display. Wild turkeys, like the trumpeter swan, were extirpated or locally extinct, in Ontario. They were not reintroduced to the province until 1984, and these programs have been so successful that there are reports of crop loss and damage due to large groups of marauding turkeys.
The return of the Red-winged blackbird is a sure sign of spring. The males travel in large groups ahead of the females, so perhaps they come early to choose their patch of the wetland. I read that this bird is believed to be one of the most numerous land birds in North America. Then I read that a male might have as many as 15 females nesting in his territory, who might have up to three broods a year, laying up to five eggs each time. Clearly Mr. Blackbird is not aware that Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada explicitly bans polygamy and threatens offenders with a five-year prison term.
These pussy willows were photographed March 1, 2017. This year, there are only catkins visible on the ends of the branches so far, so they are a bit behind. Pussy willows remind me of one of my first trips to Quebec in the springtime. We drove out to rue Duvernay on the edge of town to cut some branches. The city has now overtaken that area and spread well beyond, but it remains a lovely memory.
Apparently Brantford is in the northerly edge of where American Kestrels can be found year round. I have only seen them in the spring and fall, so I think they pass through to breeding grounds north of us, and winter south of us. Kestrels are the smallest of the falcons,and if I am lucky enough to see one, it is usually on a power line on the edge of a field.
The American crows have made their flight across the Great Lakes and are back in the region. According to the range maps, it appears that crows are year round American citizens who cross into provinces that touch the border for breeding, then most of the population returns to the US. As the climate changes there are more applications for dual citizenship.
My last trip by the dam brought me nose to nose with a couple of raccoons. The first one was busy snacking and not at all concerned by my presence. The other one was making his way up a huge tree trunk by the river. I noticed a hole in the trunk where he might have been headed. I was glad that 'bright-eyed and bushy tailed' applied to both. March is 'baby time' for raccoons so I will be watching for little bandit faces soon.
Squirrels will be having the first of two possible litters around now, so they are busy chasing ladies and making nests. They are endlessly entertaining, as long as they leave my chimney and eaves off their list of possible nest sites.
This muskrat was feeding by the bank directly below the pedestrian bridge. Mama muskrat will be having the first of three possible litters about now. Living on the river, the nest will be a burrow in the bank, in a spot where the current is not as strong. Pond or marsh dwellers build lodges that have underwater entrances and nice dry platforms inside to nest.
I thought that my footsteps on the bridge disturbed the muskrat, but it was more likely the appearance of this mink close by. A mink is cause for high alert, especially if there are babies in the burrow in the riverbank, because although the staple of a mink's diet is fish, it is a carnivore. This mink might have been about the business of its own nest though, because it sure was busy...and hard to photograph!
On the home front, there are no crocuses or tulips peaking up yet. However, there were clear signs of vandalism on my favorite birdhouse. Apparently squirrels will chew entrance holes to gain access. The 'renovations' removed the perch entirely and may be up for rent to a squirrel looking to nest , or maybe just get out of the rain. I had a wren family in that box for the first time ever, last year so I am not happy about this unscheduled work.
Even though the weather is still cold, and there is no telling what Mother Nature might still have in store, there is a shift in the air. There is a hopefulness, an anticipation, a sense of expectation and excitement. When I am out now, I am looking for the little signs and sounds that announce that spring is in progress. Even though it is not yet safe to wash the winter coats and mitts, (this is Ontario and it is too early; do not test Mother Nature), I find myself taking deeper breaths and feeling lighter in my spirit. Mennonite farmers are on the side of the road with their wagons of maple syrup, a visual reminder that life is still pulsing in the forest. Maybe a sweet reward for surviving yet another winter season.
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