Happy March! The clocks have changed, and the long, dark days of winter are officially over. Even though there might be some springtime snow storms in our future, we’re ready to put away our snow boots and touch some grass.
Before the temps actually flip to shorts-and-sandals weather, you’ll notice signs of spring popping up all over the Youghiogheny River watershed. From plants to animals, everything across the landscape is busy growing and changing to make the most of the longer days ahead.
Trees
For trees, springtime is all about attracting pollinators. Those brightly colored blossoms and fragrant aromas attract animals, insects, bats, and especially bees that help the trees reproduce.
In late March, the tiny bright red flowers of Red Maple (Acer rubrum) can be seen high in the trees. Male flowers produce large amounts of lightweight pollen that blows in the wind to pollinate other maples (coincidentally, tree pollen is responsible for a lot of people’s spring allergies).
One of the prettiest blooming trees is the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), which produces colorful clusters of tiny, pink flowers. The flowers are held close to the branches, and even bloom along the trunks, clothing almost every inch in pink (hello, Barbie tree!).
Flowers
Many corms and bulbs, such as crocuses (Crocus sp.) and snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are also on display in March. These plants emerge in early spring to absorb sunlight, blooming before the overstory steals all the sunlight.
The pretty snow trillium (Trillium nivale) usually pops up in March. This small member of the lily family grows only about 15 cm (6 in) tall. Snow trillium seeds have detachable fleshy structures that ants carry away, pollinating on foot.
A less dainty springtime bud is the skunk cabbage. Fairly common in swampy areas, skunk cabbage grows 1-3 feet tall in large patches. These thermogenic plants actually produce heat as they emerge, melting snow and ice around them. The large flower, which smells and looks like decaying flesh, attracts the flies that pollinate the plant.
Birds
As the temperature creeps up, migratory birds move through our area in search of their breeding grounds. Each year is different, but the birds’ sequence is pretty predictable, so we know what to expect next based on what we’ve already seen.
The first, and often noisiest, to arrive are red-winged Blackbirds and common grackles, usually in late February. Look for red-winged blackbirds marshes, along watercourses, water hazards on golf courses, and wet roadsides, as well as dry meadows and old fields. Common grackles are also quite distinctive, with long beaks and glossy, iridescent bodies. You’ll spot them striding around lawns and fields on their long legs or gathering in noisy groups high in trees, typically evergreens.
The blackbirds are followed by “peenting” American Woodcocks in early March, Eastern Phoebes in mid-March, and kinglets peaking in late-March. Your local state park might even lead a springtime “Woodcock Walk,” where you can witness the male woodcock’s impressive, aerial mating dance!
And of course, the early spring weeks are a great time to watch the skies for migrating waterfowl and raptors on their way elsewhere.