Harbinger of Spring

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography, Wildlife on February 16 2012, by Matt Newman

NYBG member and resident bird photographer Laura Meyers was walking the grounds recently when she caught the hint of a welcome sight. It happened to be sitting on a sweet gum branch, munching a beakful of seeds. But as common as the Red-winged Blackbird is to most northerners, many don’t realize what the songbird signifies around this time of year.

As she sent along her photograph, Laura also shared this bit of information:

“I was happy and surprised to see a Red-winged Blackbird at The New York Botanical Garden this past Friday. Male Red-winged Blackbirds return north in the spring ahead of the females and migrate south after the females in the fall.”

Research on this little bird’s migratory patterns suggests that the first scant sightings of returning Red-wings in New York usually don’t come until the very end of February; if that’s not a confirmation of just how weird and contradictory this winter has been, not much else will suffice. But whatever the explanation, we’re only too happy to see the first signs of spring on our doorstep.

Keeping track of traveling birds like these may seem like an odd hobby to the uninitiated, but in fact it aids scientists in understanding the state of local wildlife and weather trends. Beginning this Saturday, the NYBG will be doing its part by inviting bird watchers of all ages (or anyone who wants to get outside for some fun) to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

The challenge is as simple as it sounds. Participants will be counting up the local birds at the Garden from Saturday, February 18, through Monday, contributing to a detailed snapshot of bird populations that pulls from numbers gathered across the North American continent. From the Florida Keys to the Yukon, eyes will be pointed upward. And we loan out binoculars, meaning you shouldn’t have any leftover excuses solid enough to keep you indoors this weekend.

Veteran birders and potential amateurs looking to pick up the habit are also welcome to join local legend Debbie Becker for our regular Saturday morning Bird Walks. Bring your camera, your binoculars, or both, and meet up with this 25-year master birdwatcher for a walk through the Garden.