Winging into Spring with Julie Watson

By Cephas – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10271562

by Julie Watson

It’s March, and spring is in the air, literally. No matter if the month came in like a lion or a lamb, look and listen to the skies for evidence. Harbingers of spring are winging their way north as you read this. And no, I’m not talking about robins. Robins don’t actually migrate; they stay in Ohio year-round. So that ‘first robin of spring’ sighting isn’t something to get all worked up about.

However, in the past two weeks I have seen and heard flocks of Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swans, Turkey Vultures, and most exciting of all, blackbirds. Now, blackbirds may not seem all that great, but keep reading and you’ll find out why they are.

There are many species of blackbirds, Brewer’s, Grackles, and Cowbirds, just to name a few. They are generally black to brown, medium sized, perching birds, and they stick together. Many different types of blackbirds will congregate and travel together in large flocks during migration; after all, there is safety in numbers. Blackbirds are so gregarious they will even flock with European Starlings from time to time.

But the reason its so exciting to see blackbirds in Ohio this time of year belongs to one species in particular Agelaius phoeniceus, more commonly known as the red-winged blackbird. These are the true sign of spring, and last week, I saw two of them!

The females and immature males are slightly larger than sparrows with similar markings. This provides excellent camouflage amongst the cattails and marsh grasses where they nest. As with most bird species, mature males are more showy than the others. Males of breeding age are glossy black with a patch of red at the top of the wing called an epaulet. Sometimes these epaulets are concealed revealing only the yellow stripe that underlines the red.

Ok, so with all these visual obstacles, how do you know if red-winged blackbirds have returned to usher in spring? This is where listening comes in. Red-wings have a very musical call with notes that sound like running water. It is easily recognized. In fact, it’s one of my favorite bird calls (right behind most owl calls). Check it out: Red-winged Blackbird Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Males call to attract mates and defend their territory. Their sound can be heard in marshy areas and among farmland all summer long. In fact, some would argue that in addition to crickets, red-wing blackbird calls are the sound of summer.

Listen to a Red Winged Blackbird

When those cold March winds blow and snowflakes are flying, it’s easy to doubt that spring is right around the corner. Remember, all you have to do is look and listen to the skies for proof that spring is on its way.

If you’d like to be able to identify birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a world leader in wild bird research and identification developed the Merlin App. The App went live in 2014. It is free and runs on both Apple and Android devices. Happy birding!

As spring approaches all of our feathered friends could use a little help. Here’s what you can do:

• Fill the feeders
• Provide fresh water
• Provide shelter from weather and predators near the feeders
• Keep cats away
• Put up nest boxes
• Put bits of string, yarn, hair and fur out in your yard for nesting materials