Despite our back and forth winter weather in southeast Michigan this month (yesterday, we had snow squalls and “feel-like” temperatures of 9 degrees Farenheit, two days ago we had temperatures in the mid-50’s), signs of spring have arrived.
Spring-flowering purple crocuses are blooming, maple buds have burst, and Song Sparrows have returned to our area.
Usually I hear them singing before I see them. For the past couple weeks, I’ve heard Song Sparrows singing in the fields and near marshes.
This week was the first time I heard their song in the dawn chorus, along with American Robins and Northern Cardinals.
I saw this lone Song Sparrow yesterday at a nearby retention pond, foraging on the ground with the Dark-eyed Juncos and European Starlings.
