What's Happening In Nature

March is a month of anticipation—part winter, part spring, and always full of surprises. We start to Think Spring! With the Spring Equinox this month we look forward to longer days and warming temperatures. All of this helps to rapidly reawaken the natural world around us during this true season of renewal.

By early March, the sun starts to linger noticeably longer. Birds respond immediately to this extra daylight. You’ll hear more songs from cardinals, titmice, and house finches, all staking out territory and looking for mates. Woodpeckers are especially active now—drumming on trees, gutters, and anything else that echoes. If you hear a loud rat-a-tat-tat that sounds like construction, chances are it’s just a downy or hairy woodpecker sending a message.

Red-winged blackbirds usually return this month, their familiar konk-a-ree! carrying across marshes and wet fields. They’re among the earliest spring migrants, and their arrival is one of the most reliable signs that warmer days are coming.

At your feeders, winter regulars are still visiting, but their habits may shift. Chickadees begin scouting for nest cavities, nuthatches pair up, and juncos—our classic winter visitors—will gradually start heading north. Offering high-fat foods like suet and seed blends with nuts helps support birds through the still-chilly nights of early spring.

Nesting season for songbirds is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to clean out your nest boxes and install new ones. A new generation of birds will soon be entering the world. Many of them may call your yard home… you might even say that their families will become part of your family. You can make a significant difference on how well these extended families will survive and thrive in your own backyard. For birds that use nesting boxes (think bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, titmice), it is important that they are well made to help insulate the youngsters from extreme cold or heat. Proper drainage and ventilation are a must and the box should be easy to clean in preparation for the next tenant.

Open waters reveal increased activity as ducks and other waterfowl prepare to migrate. Hooded mergansers and buffleheads may linger a bit longer before heading north. Along the shore, ospreys make their triumphant return from South America, scanning rivers and estuaries for fish. March is also prime time to catch bald eagles in action as they nurture their chicks in lofty nests.

In the plant world, subtle changes are afoot. Skunk cabbage pokes through the muddy ground in wetlands, one of the earliest plants to bloom, and the first crocuses and daffodils add splashes of color to thawing gardens. Tree buds begin to swell, hinting at the vibrant canopy to come.

The natural world in March is a testament to resilience and renewal. Each chirp, bloom, and bud reminds us of the beauty of the seasons’ rhythms.

Think spring and enjoy the beauty of nature around you this month!