When I went out this morning, I heard a quiet chuck that caused me to search the branches, high up in the trees along the drive. And there he was, the first Red-winged Blackbird of spring.
It wasn’t a very satisfactory sighting. He was all alone, and wasn’t oak-a-leeing yet, but nevertheless, I have duly recorded him as our first returnee for 2014, and he was a welcome sight. Hopefully, spring weather won’t be far behind. Here are my First RWB dates for previous years:
2013: March 10th
2012: March 3rd
2011: March 10th
2010: March 10th
2009: March 7th
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I saw our first Red Winged Blackbird this morning too! I also saw the first Robin earlier in the week. The birds seem to know it’s spring, maybe someone should remind Mother Nature!
Hi Netty, nice to see them, isn’t it?
Yes, let’s hope the birds know something we don’t. What do RWBs eat before the s**w melts?
I can do no better than to refer you to Seabrooke’s post of March 12, 2010, posted here: https://willowhousechronicles.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/first-birds-of-spring/
She addresses that very question. The short answer is seeds and cattail caterpillars.
Good grief, the poor bird!! What a winter. Does he/she know about the snow coming tomorrow?