red-winged blackbirds return - a sign of spring

I was surprised to hear a red-winged blackbird today. Everything is snow covered and seems quite wintery still. I looked up when they returned to my yard in previous years:

2015: March 27
2016: March 5
2018: February 25
2019: March 12

I also looked at the site Journey North, a citizen reporting site. These dates fit with their observations. Some springs are late, some early. This looks like a pretty average one based on the blackbirds.

I just looked up when I’ve first heard red winged blackbirds around here in the spring over the past few years. I think it shows a trend:

2018 February 25
2016 March 5
2015 March 27
2009 April 9

spring red winged blackbirds

The red winged blackbirds are a full month early this year!!! I saw a small flock of 4 or so males at a nearby pond a few days ago and have been listening to them (cookalokooo) from my window today. We’re having the warmest February on record here. I don’t see much spring going on with the trees and bushes outside. but the birds are reflecting the warmth.

I’m tempted to plant peas now. My soil is workable. The old saying is to plant peas when the female red winged blackbirds arrive. I’ll prepare some soil and listen for the click click of the females replying to the males.

the swallows are here!

The swallows are here!! We got 3 inches of heavy wet snow overnight and everything is white. But there are swallows all over the place! I love to to see them swooping and soaring over the pond.

Someone asked for pictures. So I did my best a couple days later. It's pretty hard to photograph a swallow in flight. And it was too cold for me to try too long. This is what I got. One of the blurry swallow photos caught the mute swan pair in the background.

spring is coming

This week: forsythia, magnolias, chionodoxa, and daffodils are beginning to bloom. Lilac leaves are opening. A pair of chickadees is building a nest outside my window. I hear their spring song "dee-dee". I hear "old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody". The swan pair on the pond is chasing Canada geese and little ring-necked ducks have gone on their migration further north.

peepers singing

The peeper frogs started singing today. They are so enthusiastic!

From Wikipedia: The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a small chorus frog widespread throughout the eastern USA and Canada. They are so called because of their chirping call that marks the beginning of spring.

I'm hoping to make a planting calendar app based on natural events someday. I'm probably relearning what previous generations already knew. In any case, I think when the peepers sing, it's time to plant eggplant and pepper seeds indoors. And it's time to get ready to plant pea seeds in the garden next week.

redwing blackbirds are 3 weeks early

This afternoon I hear redwing black birds at the pond for the first time this season. Last year I didn't hear them til March 27. So this is three weeks earlier! I wonder if I should adjust my planting calendars by three weeks?

A pair of mute swans arrived today too. The ice on the pond melted about 2 weeks ago. We've had buffleheads and ring-necked ducks diving since then. Also flocks of Canada geese making all sorts of noise all night. They're starting to pair off now. I think the swans keep the geese away, so maybe it will be quieter at night now.

I've had a bad cold so I haven't posted (or planted) in a while. It seems to be gone so hope I can catch up.

pea planting advice

As I was looking back on my blog for the previous post, I noticed that an old piece of planting advice is:

"When red winged blackbird females return and when chickadees build their nests, it is time to plant peas."

I read that a few male male red wings have been spotted around here this past week. I haven't seen any. I will watch for them and for nesting chickadees.

plant corn when oak leaves are as big as squirrels ears

This season is going so fast I can't keep up with it! Already the oak leaves are opening. I am planting more by my calendar than phenology, just because I can't seem to keep up this year. The dandelions have been open a week and I still haven't finished planting my potatoes and I haven't started planting my carrots. I will keep trying to catch up.

Here's some other phenology advice:
When red winged blackbird females return its time to plant peas.
When the chickadees build their nests, plant peas and spinach.
When dandelions are blooming plant potatoes, beets, lettuce, spinach and carrots.
When the iris bloom, plant the peppers and eggplants outside.
Plant beets, lettuce, spinach when lilac is in first leaf.
When lilac blooms, plant beans, cukes and squash.
Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of squirrels' ears.
Plant your corn when apple blossoms start to fall.

stone wall

I was trying to catch (photographically) two red squirrels that were running up and down this stone wall yesterday. But I couldn't do it. They are fast and shy. So this is just a stone wall photo.

Its another sign of spring that the squirrels are "playing tag". Actually its the squirrel mating season and their antics are wild.

This could be a phenologism to note: plant onion seeds when the squirrels begin chasing.

Other spring signs now are the chickadees have begun singing spring songs, the fur is on the pussy willows, and snow drop buds have emerged.

Tomorrow our area is expecting snow. Our lovely bare ground will be covered with a foot of new snow it seems. Oh well... The kids are hoping for a snow day.

plant corn when oak leaves are as big as squirrels' ears

I brought home this stem of white oak leaves today to remind myself to plant my corn seeds soon. Its time ... "Plant corn when oak leaves are as big as squirrel's ears" is an old phenology truism. These oak leaves are almost as big as rabbit's ears now. I better get to it!

phenology: planting by natural cues
Popcorn (Zea mays averta)

crocuses mean its time to plant the peas

The crocuses are in full bloom in my side yard. I haven't had time to rake yet, but they've popped up through the old leaf layer anyway.

Another job still waiting is to rake out my side yard raised beds and plant peas. It's time. I could have planted peas last week. I don't think it'll matter to be a bit late.

As I admire the crocuses, I'm thinking that these bright faces are a good sign that its time to plant pea seeds. Sometimes its hard to know when your last frost is and back-calculate 10 weeks. Sometimes its hard to know how warm the soil is. But early crocuses are a good sign that it is time. Another sign I'm watching is the daffodils, which are about 6 inches high in my yard.

At my community plot only a mile away its still too cold to sow peas. No sign of crocuses there and daffodils are not even 1 inch. Brrr.

Watching natural cues is called phenology. Its not something I have heard much about from gardeners. I (and most others) go by the calendar. But I love to see the progression of the seasons and how each event comes in its own time.

Here's some of the phenology advice I've come across:
When red winged blackbird females return it is time to plant peas.
When the chickadees build their nests, plant peas and spinach.
When dandelions are blooming plant potatoes, beets, lettuce, spinach and carrots.
When the iris bloom, plant the peppers and eggplants outside.
Plant beets, lettuce, spinach when lilac is in first leaf.
When lilac blooms, plant beans, cukes and squash.
Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of squirrels ears.
Plant your corn when apple blossoms start to fall.