Here in Philadelphia…
It been cold here in Philadelphia. We’ve had clear sunny days and surprise snow showers, but the Earth has turned to provide warmer days ahead. But today is the vernal equinox and spring is here to stay.
This season’s Naturalist News has articles to read and phenomena to watch enjoy!
Articles on In Season about Spring
Spring Starts from the Ground Up
The Spring Nature Journal
Spring Nature Journal Writing Prompts
Early Spring Butterflies
Nature Calendar
March 20th – Vernal Equinox, Spring Begins
March 27th – Full Moon, Worm Moon (Eastern American Indian Moon Names)
April 25th – Full Moon, Full Pink Moon
April 22nd – Earth Day
April 26th – Arbor Day
May 1st – May Day, Beltane (beginning of summer by Celtic Calendar)
May 25th – Full Moon, Full Flower Moon
June 21st – Summer Solstice
What to Observe Right Now
Full Nature Almanac: month by month
March
Nature in Spring: An Overview of the season.
Birds: Waterfowl migration peaks by mid-March; Early nesting species begin breeding; Great Horned Owl and Bald Eagles may already be nesting; A few raptors migrate early; keep your bird feeders out as food is scarce in spring and seeds won’t be ready until summer;
Flowers: In bloom – Skunk Cabbage
Trees: Tree buds swell, pollen released
Sky: Spring Equinox March 21st or @2nd)
April
Bird: Year-round resident birds begin nesting; Bird northward migration begins, early northward migration of shorebirds; fill hummingbird feeders by end of April; Waterfowl mostly moved northward;
Butterflies: Cabbage Whites in flight
Insects: In-flight – Bumblebees, Eastern Carpenter Bees,
Flowers: In bloom – Virginia Bluebells, Shadbush, Dogwoods, Rhododendrons, Violets, Columbines, Foamflowers, Bleeding Hearts
Invasive Species: In bloom – Garlic Mustard,
Sky: Lyrids meteor shower
Holidays – Earth Day (April 22nd); National Arbor Day
May
Birds; Peak of Spring northward migration of land birds, Great Dawn Chorus begins
Flowers: In bloom – Coral Bells, Sweetspire
Sky: Eta Aquarids meteor shower
Nature festival: Beltane – May 1st
News Around the Web
Florida Python Hunt Captures 68 Snakes
Oldest Known Wild Birds Hatches a Chick at 62
Report: America’s Wildlife Struggling to Keep Up with Changing Climate
We close with a video created in March 2012 of a nesting pair of Great Blue Herons flying into their nest. I like the close-up views of the birds and the sunrise colors of their beaks.