Thanks to the mild weather, the trees and plants are growing like crazy. My neighbor told me yesterday that the gypsy moth larvae have begun to hatch (oh joy!) and I’ve noticed the chickadees are already building their nests. The only thing that doesn’t seem to be ahead of schedule this year is the spring bird migration.
The warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers and buntings love to stop in our neighborhood for a few days each spring and feed off the insects that are buzzing around the oak tree flowers. So far, I haven’t seen or heard a single one. The oaks are just starting to leaf out. Once they do, I won’t be able to see (much less photograph) any visitors, and I’ll have to rely on their songs for identification. If the trees are already done flowering by the time they arrive, the birds may just skip their visit this year and continue north to their summer breeding area.
At least one bird is on the ball. While photographing all the beautiful crabapples and lilacs at the UW Arboretum the other day, my friend and I found ourselves under the watchful gaze of a beautiful Eastern Bluebird.
