Morning Snow

cardinal in grapevines with snow
Cardinal Celebrates Spring

The snowfall was so beautiful this morning it was difficult not to stand and watch it happen. This male cardinal hopped from branch to branch making commentary on the snowfall, here exploring the protective cave of grapevines which the backyard birds enjoy.

Even the birds seemed excited, which is a clue to the less-than-serious nature of this pretty snowfall and to the progress of the season. The cardinals were cavorting, the blue jays were jamming, and the song sparrows, their melody the very essence of spring for me, were singing from every direction during the snowfall. When the birds aren’t concerned, neither should we be; if the snowfall was heavier and would be more long-lasting they’d all be hidden in protected areas and we wouldn’t see a single one—except the mourning doves who find my deck a comfortable place to sit out any storm.

But the fact that the little striped song sparrows sang the whole time, and that they are singing their spring melody, two or three quick chirps then their own pattern of trills and chirps ending with a clear long trill, tells me more than the groundhog did—spring has sprung in nature. Click here to find recordings of song sparrows (and for a good laugh have a cat near to try to find the sparrow in your computer).

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