Sounds of spring

Thanks to our late-winter snows and not-so-welcome spring rains, our roads have not been the easiest to travel lately. That has made it hard to get out and enjoy some of the early signs of spring. But, even if you can’t travel far, you can still enjoy listening to the much-anticipated sounds of spring.
Yes, for many people, spring officially arrives when they begin hearing some of those unmistakable sounds that you only hear in the springtime. Hearing those sounds doesn’t mean that winter has completely released its grip on us just yet. But, it does mean that, at the very least, winter’s grip is loosening.
Of course, most of these welcome sounds are courtesy of our feathered friends and we are already starting to hear them. Listen for the honking of geese or the quacking of ducks, as they fly overhead, heading northward to their nesting grounds. And, as wetlands open up, you will also hear the “konk-la-ree” song of red-winged blackbirds as they move back into our local marshes for the year. If you live out in the country, you may also soon hear a killdeer calling its name—“kil-deeah” over and over again.    
Around your home, listen for the “squeaky wheel” song of the blue jays, the “what cheer” song of the cardinals, and the “Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada” whistle of the white-throated sparrow. If you hear a two-note whistle--a higher-pitched one, then a lower-pitched one--you’re hearing the spring song of the chickadee. And, if you have any woodlands nearby, be sure to listen for turkey gobbles. These are all calls that the birds typically only make during the spring when they’re looking for mates and establishing their nesting territories. So, after a long winter, they are much-appreciated.
But, not all spring sounds are avian. As soon as the snow melts, be sure to listen for the tiny, yet loud, chorus frogs. They are among the first amphibians we hear in the spring, and they often sing from low-lying, grassy areas that have filled up with spring meltwater. Their calls are very distinctive, sounding like someone is running their thumb over a comb.
After the past couple months, it may seem like spring will never get here. But, open up your door and listen; you may hear spring arriving. And a welcome sound it is.