Naturalist News – Spring 2014

 

warbler rests during migration on the deck of a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
warbler rests during migration on the deck of a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Did You Know?

About 96% of birds that live on land use insects and arthropods (spiders) to feed their young.

Some Past In Season Blog Posts on Spring Events

Nature in Spring: an overview of the season

Early Spring Butterflies

Spring Starts from the Ground Up

Fringed Bleedingheart (Dicentra eximia) in my garden. Photo by Donna L. Long.
Fringed Bleedingheart (Dicentra eximia) in my garden. Photo by Donna L. Long.

Spring related articles from Around the Web

Why Birds Sing – http://birdnote.org/show/why-birds-sing

Learn How to Identify Birds by Song – http://birdnote.org/node/11603

Safe Backyard Bird Feeding http://birdnote.org/your-back-yard

Indigenous Environmental Network – http://www.ienearth.org/ – for indigenous environmental news

Honor the Earth – http://www.honorearth.org/ – for awareness of Native environmental issues

 

A female House Sparrow gathering twigs to build a nest.
A female House Sparrow gathering twigs to build a nest.

Naturalist News Spring 2014: Seasons

Seasons Imbolc – February 2 (Groundhog Day) – Spring begins to show

Spring Equinox – March 20th (day and night are of equal length, the days begin to grow longer after today)

Beltane Cross-Quarter Day – May 4th, Summer begins

Naturalist News Spring 2014: Full Moons

March Full Moon  – March 8th – Worm Moon (worms seen above ground)

April Full Moon – April 6th Pink Moon (pink Phlox Blooms)

May Full Moon – May 5th – Corn Planting Moon, Full Flower Moon (flowers are abundant)

Full moons always rise near sunset

A Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) butterfly visiting my garden.
A Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) butterfly visiting my garden.

Naturalist News Spring 2014: Seasonal Events

Animals: Chipmunks emerge from hibernation

Birds: Waterfowl begin northward migration, Early nesting species begin breeding, you begin to hear birds sing

Flowers: In bloom – Skunk Cabbage, Snow Trillium, Marsh Marigold, Spicebush, American Hazelnut, Eurasian plants

Trees: Tree buds swell, pollen released

Citizen Science to Participate In:

The Journey North – A Global Study or Wildlife Migration and Seasonal Change
This citizen scientist program is geared to children but an adult would find it activities fascinating. journeynorth.org

Project Bud Burst – a citizens science project which monitors plant phenology
http://www.budburst.org/

That’s all for this issue. Look for the next Naturalist News.

2012 and 2013 Nature Almanacs

Naturalist News Spring 2012

Naturalist News Fall 2012

Naturalist News Spring Newsletter 2013

Naturalist News Summer 2013

Naturalist News Fall 2013 Almanac 

Naturalist News Winter 2013

Nature Calendar for 2015

 

 

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