Yesterday, a small gang of Common Grackles rolled up to my bird feeder. For the rest of the day, everywhere I looked, grackles flew from tree to tree, strutting arrogantly with baleful eyes and mechanical whistles. Grackles are, of course, always a treat to observe in their stylish Stygian plumage, but the import of their presence won’t be lost on anyone in the temperate zones struggling through an intemperate season. Ready or not, spring will be coming to the Northern Hemisphere! Flora and fauna across the world feel the phenological shift; do you?
I’ll be looking for further signs of spring around Rochester, though our unseasonable warmth this week may be giving way to snow. Corey has been blitzing the Bahamas in his endless quest for Caribbean endemics, so wish him luck on those last holdouts. How about you? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.
Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!
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