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The Weird Ways Animals Tell Us Spring Is Here
findingdulcinea.com/news/science ^ | March 23, 2009 | Haley A. Lovett

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.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: spring
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To: brytlea
Beautiful pic. I love those little guys. Lots of cardinals around here. I hear the males start chirping in late January, calling to their mates, announcing to the world that Spring is on the way once again, that he will mate and build a nest and raise a brood. The endless chain of life.

All creatures great and small,
The Lord God made them all...

21 posted on 03/23/2009 12:36:46 PM PDT by chimera
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To: JoeProBono
You call tell by the haberdashery.


22 posted on 03/23/2009 12:38:55 PM PDT by Daffynition ("Beauty is in the sty of the beholder." ~ Joe 6-pack)
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To: JoeProBono

I feel like a toad, get laid once a year whether I want it or not.


23 posted on 03/23/2009 12:39:01 PM PDT by wxgesr (I want to be the first person to surf on another planet!)
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To: chimera

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!)


24 posted on 03/23/2009 12:42:23 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: wxgesr
Toad You So
25 posted on 03/23/2009 12:43:23 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: a fool in paradise

26 posted on 03/23/2009 12:43:54 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: brytlea

Yea baby!


27 posted on 03/23/2009 12:44:35 PM PDT by wxgesr (I want to be the first person to surf on another planet!)
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To: wxgesr

But I’m sure you have a lovely singing voice!


28 posted on 03/23/2009 12:45:17 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: cripplecreek

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.


29 posted on 03/23/2009 12:47:44 PM PDT by rintense (Go Israel!)
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To: JoeProBono

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!


30 posted on 03/23/2009 12:48:59 PM PDT by Redleg Duke ("Sarah Palin...Unleashing the Fury of the Castrated Left!")
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To: JoeProBono; shibumi

“salamander love songs”

It’s not for nothing that some of us are called sirens.....8:)


31 posted on 03/23/2009 12:54:03 PM PDT by Salamander (Like acid and oil on a madman's face, reason tends to fly away.......)
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To: Daffynition

32 posted on 03/23/2009 12:55:34 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: Hegemony Cricket; shibumi

ROTFLMAO!

*perfect*


33 posted on 03/23/2009 12:56:38 PM PDT by Salamander (Like acid and oil on a madman's face, reason tends to fly away.......)
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To: Salamander

34 posted on 03/23/2009 1:01:19 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Sure sign of spring. The spring breakers come and the snowbirds go home.


35 posted on 03/23/2009 1:01:22 PM PDT by SonnyBubba
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To: brytlea

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]


36 posted on 03/23/2009 1:02:13 PM PDT by Salamander (Like acid and oil on a madman's face, reason tends to fly away.......)
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To: Salamander
I have not seen a robin here at all. I don't think I've ever lived where they are numerous. And instead of starlings we have scads of grackles!

Synchronized Grackling

37 posted on 03/23/2009 1:04:29 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: JoeProBono

I, for one, welcome our new Amphibian Overlords.


38 posted on 03/23/2009 1:05:11 PM PDT by Salamander (Like acid and oil on a madman's face, reason tends to fly away.......)
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To: JoeProBono

39 posted on 03/23/2009 1:07:25 PM PDT by Daffynition ("Beauty is in the sty of the beholder." ~ Joe 6-pack)
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To: brytlea
Yeah, they seem to like the cooler climes. I sure love that brilliant red of the male cardinal against the white snow of a winter day. Brightens things up, for sure.

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...

40 posted on 03/23/2009 1:11:06 PM PDT by chimera
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