Yup, it’s really coming down out there! Good day for feeder watching if you live in a sheltered location, anyway. Here at the store, the wind is whipping around the building, and very few birds have made attempts at alighting on the feeders. At the house, where our backyard is quite sheltered, the feeders were pretty busy – our flock of 10 or so Dark-eyed Juncos were busy scratching for millet on the tray feeder before sunrise – and before the feeders were completely buried in snow!

March is an interesting month for birding. Our first northbound migrants (Turkey Vultures – which have actually already begun to arrive, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles) return. Depending on the weather, varying numbers of other migrants, such as Eastern Phoebes and even Tree Swallows will be returning by month’s end. Waterfowls are on the move, and some finches may begin to head north (if they went south at all), while other finches, and some frugivores, may still be heading south if food sources to our north have been consumed.

March is a month of birding anticipation. While the first birds are in fact returning, it only hints at the flood of migrants soon to come. While the first Red-winged Blackbird is always exciting, by month’s end we’re craving something else! March doesn’t usually produce too many rarities – and when it does it may simply be caused by more people getting outside and overwintering birds beginning to wander.

The weather can vary from over 50-degrees one day to days like today the next! Throw in a warm spell, and migration – especially from things like blackbirds, phoebes, and ducks – will accelerate. An Arctic blast, and migration grinds to a halt.

Meanwhile, resident birds – as I wrote about yesterday – are singing with increasing frequency and intensity, again, only hinting at the action to come. Many birders would prefer to fast-forward through March, but since that’s not possible, we might as well enjoy what the month does in fact have to offer.

For those of you looking for something to do on this snowy day, here’s a few links to check out.

While I would never even READ, let along pass along, something from Fox “News,” I was forwarded this photo, which really is too good not to share. Clearly, this gentleman is not a birder!

In the good news department, Mexico has vowed to protect the Monarch Butterfly.

And finally today, I leave you with a game for the weekend: See how you do.