Date: 03/18/2005

Number: 1

I
will be heading out to a nearby wetland on Saturday to look for Male
Red-winged Black Birds on Territory (they are my sure sign of spring). They
should be around by now. There are a few thousand in Southern Ontario
already.

Birds singing (for real) in the Sault - order of when first heard this year

Black-capped Chickadee - mid January

White-winged Crossbill - mid February

European Starling - mid February

Mourning Dove - mid February

Northern Cardinal - mid February

House Sparrow - late February

Dark-eyed Junco - Early March

Red and White-breasted Nuthatch - Early March

Pine Siskin - Mid March (this week)

Also :
Common Raven and American Crow have been courting since mid February and
breeding and building nests in the last three weeks.

Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers started actively drumming and calling
in their preferred territories since the end of February but are much more
active and vocal these days.

Mallard, Black Duck, Common Merganser and Common Goldeneye have been
courting since mid February and some have already breed.

Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Latitude: 46.3 Longitude: -84.2

Observed by:
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