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Signs of Spring #5: Where Birdsong and Peepers Welcome Spring
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 4/21/2026
A phenomena occurs this time of year, with sounds that fill the air and announce that spring is here. Both involve a chorus of song that is critical for both birds and small tree frogs, also known as spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer).
Early morning brings a concert of bird songs, known as the Dawn Chorus which starts as early as 4:30 AM and continues for several hours. It is a critical part of the birds’ breeding season as it’s primarily the males who sing to attract females and establish their territory.
Sound carries farther in the coolness and calm of dawn. Much like instruments joining into a symphony, there is an order to who sings first. Birds with larger eyes such as Robins, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes sing first, as their eye size allows them to see in lower light. Next to join the chorus are the Mourning Doves and Wrens then about a half hour before sunrise the Warblers, Cardinals, and Finches will join in.
Despite their tiny size, Peepers can create a mighty chorus, congregating near bodies of water. This high-pitched peeping can occur up to 20 times a minute. The frog with the deepest voice starts the serenade, and then is joined by two others.
The faster and louder the peeping, the greater the chance of attracting a female. This chorus can be heard in early spring on warmer nights and during cloudy, or rainy days.
And finally, as the sun rises, species who need more light like Sparrows will enter the symphony. Around dawn, each species will begin to have enough light to see both competitors and predators. This chorus will continue at its highest volume until there is enough light to forage for food.
To discover more, check out the Cornell Lab’s article “Who Sings First During the Dawn Chorus—and Why?”
Signs of Spring #4: They’re Back!
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 4/14/2026
Great blue herons are back in the Lakes Region! These elegant birds are renowned for their ability to stand motionless, but with lightning speed they can dart down to capture their prey.
The great blue heron (Ardea hernias) is the largest of North America’s herons, with a height of 3.2-4.5 feet and a wingspan that can reach nearly 6.6 feet. Despite their size, these majestic birds actually only weigh between 5-7 pounds as a result of their hollow bones.
Herons usually live in colonies which can reach up to 500 nests that can usually be seen high up in the trees. The male, after choosing a mate, will collect the nesting material which the female will then proceed to weave into a nest.
Herons will sometime reuse nests from previous years which they enhance and repair using pine needles, moss, reeds, dry grass and/or small twigs. This process of nest building can take from 3 days up two weeks. Once the clutch of 2 to 6 eggs are laid, both parents take turns sitting on the nest. The incubation period lasts between 25-29 days.
The bond between a mating pair only lasts for the breeding season, come time for the next year the herons will choose different mates and begin the process over again.
Tune in for the next installment of Signs of Spring where we will continue once the chicks have hatched.
To discover more, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Signs of Spring #3 -American Goldfinches
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 4/7/2026
We have between 30-50 goldfinches (Spinus tristis) at our feeders daily, and they are ravenous as seen by the amount of seeds we’re going through.
There is a definite reason for this feeding frenzy, for at the same time, we are witnessing these little birds going through a color change, with their tell-tale bright yellows emerging.
Their winter plumage of a dull, olive-brown is being transformed, with splotches of bright yellow peeking through. This phenomena is not simply a color change though, the goldfinches are replacing every single feather on their bodies, one at a time.
This process, called a prealternate molt, is when they shed completely and grow an entirely new plumage. As each feather loosens from its follicle and falls out, a new one protected by a waxy keratin casing replaces it. The casing will then split and the barbs begin to unfurl. It takes 7-10 days to complete the new feathers while the entire process of complete molting is over three weeks.
It takes a lot of food to support the calories needed, which are 1.5 times a normal rate, so high that only migration and egg production need more. While the goldfinches are eating more, they are also resting more to conserve their energy.
Some Fun Facts for you:
Fun fact #1: The American Goldfinch is the only member of its subspecies in the Finch family that go through a prealternate molt.
Fun fact #2: Their vibrant yellows come from the food they eat with the Carotenoids digested from primarily sunflower & nyjer seeds and dandelions. Females seem to recognize that a brighter yellow means that the male has a better diet, hence is a better forager and partner.
Fun fact #3: American Goldfinches wait until June or July to breed. They wait until plants like milkweed, thistle and other plants produce their fibrous seeds, which the goldfinches use for nest building as well as feeding their young.
To discover more visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Signs of Spring #2 – The Emergence of New Hampshire’s Black Bears
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 3/31/2026
As daylight hours lengthen and temperatures rise, another unmistakable sign of spring is the emergence of New Hampshire’s approximately 6,000 black bears from their winter dens.
During winter, bears enter a state of hibernation (torpor), a period of deep sleep where they do not eat or drink and rarely, if ever, urinate or defecate. Unlike true hibernators, however, bears can awaken if disturbed or threatened.
Over the course of the winter, bears typically lose 15% to 40% of their body weight. When they emerge in spring, they are both hungry and sluggish. It takes several days for them to become fully alert and a few weeks of gradual activity to restore their metabolism. After expelling a fecal plug, bears often consume natural “laxatives” such as skunk cabbage to help restart their digestive systems before returning to a more typical spring diet of insects, roots, and early vegetation.
As omnivores, bears will eat almost anything. In early spring, when natural food sources are limited, they are especially drawn to high-calorie, easy-to-access foods, often found around human homes. Unsecured garbage, birdseed, pet food, grease on barbecue grills, coolers, and even fruit trees can quickly attract bears. These food sources not only bring bears closer to people but can also lead to dangerous habituation.
You can help protect both bears and your community by taking simple precautions:
• Use bear-resistant trash containers
• Clean and store grills after use
• Keep pet food indoors
• Remove bird feeders during bear season
When bears become accustomed to human food, they are far more likely to get into trouble- and often must be euthanized as a result. Remember: “A fed bear is a dead bear.” By keeping our spaces clean and secure, we help ensure that these remarkable animals remain wild and safe.
Some great resources can be found at NHPR, the North American Bear Center and of course, the National Park Service.