Early spring can be a pleasant time of year. Periods of mild weather are expanding, balmy evenings become routine, color returns to the landscape and the fragrance of moist soil pervades our neighborhoods. But something is missing; though toads are trilling and garter snakes begin to venture from their dens, the suburban wildlife has changed little since the dead of winter.
While tree swallows, eastern phoebes and migrant waterfowl returned to our wetlands in March, the residential bird life is still comprised of winter and permanent residents; birdsong has been swelling since February but the songsters remain unchanged. We still await the tide of summer residents and migrant songbirds, an annual highlight for birders and naturalists alike.
By mid April, the wave should reach mid Missouri, led by chimney swifts, northern orioles, red-breasted grosbeaks, brown thrashers, gray catbirds and house wrens. Late April will bring flycatchers, indigo buntings, ruby-throated hummingbirds, chipping sparrows and migrant warblers; this wave will push into May, with more warblers, common nighthawks, tanagers and thrushes gracing the scene. We can then settle in for the summer, surrounded by our fair-weather neighbors and the beauty that they bring.
