Spring birding

Can spring really be on the way or are we all dreaming? As a birder and birdwatcher all my life, spring is the peak time of year to be out in the field. Other seasons, of course, have their unique attractions for a birder, but spring is generally the time of year when we see the most variety of birds.

The peak month in spring, in terms of overall numbers of species that can be seen is usually May, but other spring months mark the peak for specific bird groups. For instance, March through early April is the window for seeing large numbers of Sandhill Cranes in central Nebraska, late March through early April is usually the time to see most shorebirds and if you want to see large numbers of waterfowl, get out as soon as the ice is off the marsh and that could be as early as February in some locations. In other words, don’t wait till May to go birding - the birds in your area may be moving even as you read this. Get that birding binocular out and be ready.

For those early spring birding months, I also carry both a birding binocular and a birding spotting scope. In fact, for checking on spring waterfowl, shore birds, raptors and other birds at a distance, I use a spotting scope as much or more than my binoculars. Only when the leaves pop out on the trees in May and it is time to hit the woods for warblers, do I leave the spotting scope, behind.

The Robin, as per the pic, above, is the bird we typically associate with spring, but a lot of people are surprised when I tell them I have seen Robins every month of the year, even this far north. Robins are hardier than you might think.