THERE are signs everywhere that spring has arrived, like bright golden skunk cabbage, cream-coloured Indian plum and pink salmonberry flowers adding their cheer to the greenery.
And the Rufous hummingbird is back, arriving just when the salmonberry and red-flowering current flowers surfaced. All winter long we've enjoyed our resident Anna's hummingbird. Now we have two common species of hummers to admire, with the Calliope a local rarity, making it three. Incidentally, there are no Allen's hummingbird records (that have been accepted) for B.C., but who knows, you may be the first to document its occurrence here. Good luck because it's very difficult to distinguish from the very similar rufous.
Another real (and delightful) sign of spring on the North Shore is the dawn chorus. This is when birds sing at dawn (and sometimes well before) to greet the rising sun - it's a fabulous symphony of song. One of the first birds to lead the morning chorus is the robin with it's "cheerily, cheerily, cheer-up" song as anyone who has one carolling outside the bedroom window at 4 a.m. knows all to well!
Add to the robin's song the plaintive "hum-whistle" of the varied thrush, the lovely notes of the house finch, and the bright "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet" of the song sparrow - it's all very wonderful.
April is when we'll see great changes in the bird diversity as neo-tropical migrants add their voices to those of the locals. Voices not heard since last spring challenge our memories, like Cassin's vireo, yellow-rumped warbler and Swainson's thrush.
The lovely "tea-time" song of the black-capped chickadee delights all who hear it. Other interpretations of its song (there are many) include "sweet-ee," and "cheeseburger" (it is true).
This is the chickadee's song and like other birds it has many calls - like "chick-a-dee-dee."
Calls and songs are different, ie. used for different purposes. The other common chickadee of the North Shore - the chestnut backed - has no "tea-time" song, only a nasal "chick-a-dee-dee."
Chickadees have been very busy exploring their nesting opportunities - they start early. Now they're excavating nesting cavities or lining nesting boxes with moss and other materials like animal fur. (They love dog fur.)
Waterfowl are all in fine plumage. Local residents like the mallard have been courting for many months will soon be nesting. Wood ducks at Maplewood Conservation Area have been seen perched atop their nest boxes. Common goldeneyes and buffleheads have been courting too, but they will leave us for nesting areas in the interior of the province.
The Harlequin Ducks will leave to nest along fast flowing mountain streams.
Two duck species that winter in the south and migrate north to breed are the blue-winged teal and the cinnamon teal. Maplewood's west pond is where to look for these two local rarities.
Sharing wetland/marshy habitat with waterfowl are the Virginia rail, marsh wren, red-winged blackbird, and the beautiful little Pacific tree frog (sometime called the Pacific chorus frog). Maplewood Conservation Area is proud to have a good breeding population of the tree frog.
Spring is also the season to look skyward for birds like the trumpeter swans (recently seen at Maplewood), Canada geese and turkey vultures migrating northward. Some turkey vultures will stay the summer - watch for them riding air currents with eagles and ravens.
Swallows, some of which have spent the winter in South America, arrive back in April. Watch for violet-green, tree, barn, cliff and rough-winged. And if you're lucky, you might even see a bank swallow. One swallow may not make a summer, but many do.
Shorebirds like the western sandpiper pass through our area from South America to breeding grounds in the Arctic. Tidal flats like Maplewood's are critical habitats for migrating shorebirds and other species like waterfowl.
At Maplewood, we all await the return of the osprey from its wintering grounds, perhaps in Mexico, Central America or beyond. When the ospreys return it's time for celebration.
Spring, it has been said, is a celebration of life. There is much beauty to be enjoyed and appreciated for those who take time to explore the outdoors, and what better place than Maplewood Conservation Area. I should mention too, that recently a beautiful Northern goshawk has been seen near the west pond, and also some butterflies (mourning cloak, anglewings).
Al Grass is a naturalist with Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia, which sponsors free walks at Maplewood Flats Conservation Area on the second Saturday of every month. The next walk is Saturday, April 13, where you can learn more about spring birding at Maplewood. Meet at 10 a.m. at Maplewood Flats, 2645 Dollarton Hwy. Walks go rain or shine. Visit wildbirdstrust.org.
