Spring is almost here. I'm starting to see some early signs of this years spring bird migration here in NW Indiana.

This past Friday i heard and saw Red Wing Black Birds.

Cardinals are singing their spring song. As well as Black Cap Chickadees.

Is anyone else seeing signs of this years migration?

From the other end of migration I see an early start. I am currently in the ACE Basin of coastal SC. Usually still covered up with ducks, there are very few left here this year. There are still a few Tundra Swans and I did see a Common Loon. I’ve seen no Blue-winged Teal, Widgeon or Pintails. They have all moved north. So, the east coast flyway is on the move!

Eastern Blue Birds are now back as well.

Cook County, MN here - no migration yet (except from the arctic birds to here) but chickadees, siskins, woodpeckers and nuthatches are very vocal and active! Eagle chicks hatching.
:)

Le Sueur County, MN - I have also noticed in the last week Cardinals singing their spring song, and chickadees are definitely more vocal.

I believe we are out of the “dead of winter”!!

JW

jillpine: "Cook County, MN here - no migration yet (except from the arctic birds to here) but chickadees, siskins, woodpeckers and nuthatches are very vocal and active! Eagle chicks hatching.
:)
"

Love this photo!


Brown county, mn
Took a drive today from new ulm to redwood falls and back in somewhat of a circle so not seeing the same area twice.
Robins!!! I KNOW some robins stick around but there were hundreds of them kinda in an area covering 10 miles.
Lots of rooster and hen pheasants are surfacing. Turkeys turkeys turkeys.
Hawks, eagles….more than normal since the mn river is not open In this area yet. Maybe they came back to get there nests spruced up with some spring cleaning and adding on.
Haven’t seen as many cardinals as usual.
My backyard has an over-abundance of woodpecker families due to the ash borer. Is it illegal to woodpecker adoption and relocation?

Other than birds we saw deers, an opossum, and a few dead raccoons, one very dark fur.

I don’t think I’ve seen anything that is not normally here at this stage of the season. Haven’t heard or seen and ducks or loons or geese or swans.

Minneapolis
Cardinals are all year though my feeders seem to attract more in the winter. They are starting to sing more now. Chicadees are here all year as are wood peckers and nut hatches. Junkos haven't left yet. No new visitors as yet.

Sandhill Cranes heard flying over Indianapolis area this last week.

plander: "Sandhill Cranes heard flying over Indianapolis area this last week."

Wow, that's early.

The only sign of spring here in Duluth is my wife's increasing yearning to be some place with a list of recent observations that doesn't start with Black-capped Chickadee and end with White-breasted Nuthatch. :-)

Even the Sax-Zim Bog has been PDS this winter.

Twin Cities, MN. Nothing new has arrived, but we have had 4 robins all winter, and that is a first.

Yesterday, had a few large flocks of Sandhill Crains circling overhead on their way north.

Robins are back in force.

I am seeing some nesting behavior already. Wondering if we end up with a snowy/cold spring if there will be some nest failures.

We have had quite a few White Throated Sparrows passing thru the feeders in the yard this week(SW Ohio)......They don't actually get into the feeders, but like looking for thistle and seed on the ground underneath. Heard my first Red Wing Blackbirds along the river last week.

Mike

Large flock of red winged black birds this weekend. Were around for half a day and then gone.

A lot of migrating birds will get hung up on the deep snow pack in northern MN. Hung up meaning, they won't come further north until there is some open ground.
It's going to be a long spring up here so expect to see a deluge of birds waiting to move further north until the snow melts.

We are in the throws of winter with more than 3' of snow on the ground and no big thaw in sight. I know the deer are in my back yard when I see their ears moving through the trail I snowblowed back there. I can't see the rest of them.

Loons will start arriving soon and they gather in large flocks on Lake superior making daily flights inland looking for open water. Sort of pathetic in a sad way. Just like humans, they wait and wait for the lakes to open up.
Tom

tumblehome: "A lot of migrating birds will get hung up on the deep snow pack in northern MN. Hung up meaning, they won't come further north until there is some open ground.
It's going to be a long spring up here so expect to see a deluge of birds waiting to move further north until the snow melts.


We are in the throws of winter with more than 3' of snow on the ground and no big thaw in sight. I know the deer are in my back yard when I see their ears moving through the trail I snowblowed back there. I can't see the rest of them.


Loons will start arriving soon and they gather in large flocks on Lake superior making daily flights inland looking for open water. Sort of pathetic in a sad way. Just like humans, they wait and wait for the lakes to open up.
Tom"

Spot on. We did see a pair of Trumpeter Swans in Normanna the other day, headed WNW. Otherwise it's hard to imagine the snow will melt in time for the Northern Flickers to arrive and raise a brood ...

Our drab goldfinch showed up at the feeder in bright yellow today. His friends, the red or house finch also had a nice scarlet patch on the back of his head. Color is returning.

I was taking my dogs out this morning and I heard the north woods calling me… the beautiful sounds of the White-throated sparrow. They are on their way to their summer home.

JW

JWilder: "I was taking my dogs out this morning and I heard the north woods calling me… the beautiful sounds of the White-throated sparrow. They are on their way to their summer home.


JW"

They are moving thru my area as well!!! NW Indiana. Puts a smile on my face when I hear them.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are in the neighborhood. Headed up north!!

I’m not sure I have ever witnessed this bird during migration. Good to see for sure.

JW

Hummingbirds, Orioles, and grosbeaks are back!

JW