Posted on 03/23/2009 11:48:08 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Whether it is toads blocking roads, salamander love songs, or a groundhog overcoming his shadow, many animals have unique ways of welcoming spring.
How Birds, Toads, Groundhogs and Salamanders Start Spring Most people are familiar with the ritual of Groundhog Day; since 1887, every Feb. 2, Americans wait eagerly to learn if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow, which tells us if we’ll have six more weeks of winter, or if spring will come early. According to legend, Phil was chosen because he is the same groundhog used during the first Groundhog Day, and will live on forever.
Early February is between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox (the official start of spring), so it makes sense that we look to Phil for signs of spring around this time. This winter Phil saw his shadow, and let everyone know that six more weeks of winter was in store.
In Upper Roxborough, Pa., toads mark the beginning of spring by stopping traffic. Last year the Philadelphia neighborhood saw more than 100 American toads killed by passing cars as they tried to cross the road on their journey to find a mate. This spring the city will put up temporary detours so that the toads may cross in peace.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, volunteers will patrol the roads in anticipation of the first migrating toads, and put up detour signs in hopes that more toads will cross successfully and the declining toad population will be stabilized.
In Green County, Ohio, students get to experience the beginnings of spring firsthand by watching salamanders mate in local vernal pools. The pools, which have no fish, can only exist in the right combination of warm and wet weather; when this happens at the beginning of spring, it is prime time for the once-a-year mating of salamanders. After spring, the pools dry up and the salamanders return to their burrows.
Bird watchers everywhere can tell you when it is spring by the sweet sound of birds chirping. Among the many bird signals that alert us to the arrival of spring are the hooting of owls and pecking of woodpeckers.
All creatures great and small,
The Lord God made them all...
I feel like a toad, get laid once a year whether I want it or not.
I think cardinals are much more beautiful than the redwings, but we don’t have as many here. In the spring, the redwings sing that little trilly song and it is SOOOO beautiful! I love the cardinals dripping water song, but we just don’t see more than a few a year (altho I hear more are starting to nest down here rather than go north—just like New Yorkers!)
Yea baby!
But I’m sure you have a lovely singing voice!
Yep, I know its Spring by the number of possums and skunks that are killed on the road by my house. Been quite a few in the past three weeks.
I see that the woodchucks are coming out to sleep in a pool of blood along the road. It is a sure sign of spring!
“salamander love songs”
It’s not for nothing that some of us are called sirens.....8:)
ROTFLMAO!
*perfect*
Sure sign of spring. The spring breakers come and the snowbirds go home.
I know that spring is here when the Starlings come back.
[the Robins drag in a few weeks later]
My own personal “sign” are my willows.
*Normally* they put out buds in late February but since all this “global warming” stuff started, they’re waiting until mid-March.
Right now, they have *tiny* leaves which are not growing...as if they’re suspicious of sticking their heads out, only to be hit by yet another sub-freezing night.
Just 6 or 7 years ago, we’d already be out riding the Harleys on 70-80 degree days and still riding into late October-early November.
[Blasted global warming’s nearly frozen us to death]
I, for one, welcome our new Amphibian Overlords.
I get a lot of them at my feeders in the mornings and evenings. The only problem they have is shyness. I get some jays also and while I love their showy colors and jaunty crest, they sure are bullies. The other birds know who's boss when the blue jays come around. The cardinals tend to beat a hasty retreat.
I've seen some of the male cardinals feeding their mates. Must be getting close to breeding season...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.