What are your signs of Spring?

[jem041279]

When the pecan trees bloom

 

[whistlepig]

This is Spanky. One of our dogs. We call her the Spank O' Meter. Picture from last spring. We can look at the remote thermometor on the wall or check the Spank O' Meter out the back window. We have found that the Spank O' meter to be so much more accurate than the remote thermometor.

 

[smstonypoint]

Before my retirement, I judged the arrival of spring by when the coeds began wearing shorts to class.

Steve

 

[Tollster]

Onion snow

 

[Runner]

The bluebirds (and dandelions) return.

 

[forgeblast]

My true sign isnt the robins, its the black birds with the orange feathers on the shoulders of their wings. I see them I know we are in to spring.

 

[studor]

The sound of redwing blackbirds :thumbsup:

 

[whistlepig]

The sound of redwing blackbirds :thumbsup:

I forgot the redwing blackbirds. Truly the best indicator of spring.

 

[rekees4300]

It's Spring when the Phoebe returns to her nest built under the deck. We have a deal. I protect her nest and in exchange she eats mass quantities of insects.

 

[tcreeley]

In Maine now we have robins spreading out. My son saw a flock of 50 mallards heading north, and a neighbor saw a flock of 100 Canada geese flying north as well. This has all been within the last 3 weeks. -All ahead of schedule by a month or so. Thursday I saw a red tail hawk taking off from a tree by the side of a rural road.
As a kid I started recording arrival dates for Redwing black birds. It is really an accurate occurrence. If the winter is mild- you move the arrival date up a week, and if cold, postpone it a week. Then you watch to see what you get. Redwings are so noisy that they are good indicators to watch for.
But as someone said- peepers at night, and during the day- song sparrows!
I know spring is on the way- I had a dream of a meadowlark!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3QicOAiBXk[/ame]