Off To The Races – LIFE IN THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WATERSHED

Trying to get a favorable place to nest before others arrive, the “early birds” are presently racing north through the lower Susquehanna valley. Check out these sightings from earlier today…

Hooded Mergansers, two males and a female.

During these chilly days of late winter, this hardy Eastern Phoebe finds sustenance by seizing flying insects along the water’s edge.

An American Robin in classic worm-hunting posture. — Possibly our most familiar sign of spring, an American Robin in classic worm-hunting posture.

A Common Grackle in a maple tree that is starting to flower. — An iridescent Common Grackle in a maple tree that is beginning to flower.

A male Red-winged Blackbird singing near a small patch of cattails. — A male Red-winged Blackbird singing from a perch near a small patch of cattails. During the spring migration, noisy flocks of males compete for a breeding territory at these sites. Each of the victors defends his spot and awaits the arrival of a female mate while the losers move on to vie for their own breeding location farther north.

Time to get outside and have a look. The spectacle of spring migration passes quickly. You don’t want to miss it!

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