Vernal Equinox

Author: admin

Natural Events

Beginning in March, the alternating pattern of freezing nights and sunny thawing days cause sap to rise in sugar maple trees. Red squirrels know the sugar maple’s sweet secret…look for their teeth marks in the bark.
During the second week of March, migratory birds are returning. Look for Canada geese, blackbirds, bluebirds, robins, flickers, phoebes, and the many species of raptors that fill the skies.
During the third week of March, take some time at dusk to watch the unusual and entertaining evening courtship ritual of the woodcock. The nasal “peeeent” call of the woodcock accompanies their dramatic display.
The warm rains bring out thousands of amphibians. Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, spring peepers, green frogs, and American toads all migrate from the thawing forest soil to their watery birth places to breed.

Resurfacing reptiles greet the warmth of spring. Look for painted turtles, garter snakes, and black racers all basking in open sunlight.
During the middle of April, millions of shad leave the Atlantic Ocean and return to the Delaware River and other coastal rivers to spawn. During this amazing migration, the shadbush or downy service berry begins to bloom with masses of white flowers.
On warm April days, thousands of hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures fill the skies. These raptors ride the thermals of rising warm air as they return from their southern wintering grounds.
By the last week in April, the spring ephemerals are growing out of the thawing ground. These colorful woodland flowers include hepatica, trailing arbutus, bloodroot, spring beauty, trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, red trillium, and over a dozen species of violets.

Look for gypsy moth caterpillars, tent caterpillars, Swallowtail butterflies, and Luna moths. The caterpillars hatch just in time to feed on the fresh new tree and shrub foliage.
Insects are also back in full force and the hungry songbirds returning from their wintering grounds eat them up. These tropical migrants fill the air with their melodic calls.
The beaches of Delaware Bay are taken over by thousands of horseshoe crabs that come ashore to mate and lay eggs. The eggs provide food for migrating shorebirds.
Late breeding amphibians can be heard at the end of May. Listen for the green frog, gray tree frog, Fowler’s toad, and bullfrog. The gray tree frog and bullfrog both produce exceptionally loud calls.