You know spring has sprung when …..

1. You know spring has sprung when…..

2. American Robin • Song a musical whistled phrase, "cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up." Call note a sharp "chup.“ • Because the robin forages largely on lawns, it is vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and can be an important indicator of chemical pollution. • the appearance of a robin signals spring BUT the American Robin actually spends the winter in much of its breeding range. LISTEN

3. Killdeer • most widespread and familiar of the North American plovers • pretends to have a broken wing to lure predators from their nest • Killdeer is one of the most successful shorebirds because of its fondness for human modified habitats and its willingness to nest close to people LISTEN

4. LISTEN • Red-winged Blackbird • striped female looks strikingly different than the male and could almost be mistaken for a large dark sparrow • one of the most abundant birds in North America, the Red-winged Blackbird is found in wetlands and agricultural areas across the continent • is a highly polygynous species, with one male having up to 15 different females making nests in his territory • In winter, forms huge flocks of several million birds, which congregate in the evening and spread out each morning

5. LISTEN • Ruby-Throated Hummingbird • only species of hummingbird that breeds in eastern North America and is found throughout eastern NA deciduous and mixed forests • It flies non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico to winter in Central America. • The Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings 53 times a second.

6. Important Species that deserve our respect… American Crow Common Raven LISTEN LISTEN

7. Herring Gull LISTEN

8. Loggerhead Shrike LISTEN

9. Sandhill Crane LISTEN

10. Great Blue Heron LISTEN

11. Mourning Dove LISTEN

12. LISTEN American Redstart

13. White Throated Sparrow LISTEN

14. Black Throated Green Warbler LISTEN

15. LISTEN Yellow Rumped Warbler

16. Red Eyed Vireo LISTEN

17. American Goldfinch LISTEN