Waiting for the Birds

Shared by Rachel Anderson
Naturalist at the Nature Center

rachel.anderson@nashville.gov

The first day Doug and I moved into our current home, I started a bird journal.  My first entry -- on August 31, 2001--there was a Blue-winged Warbler and a Black-throated green Warbler in a black locust tree. 

I now have nearly 20 years of observations written down – mostly about birds, but also about salamanders, wildflowers, butterflies, lichens … but mostly birds. 

My first red salamander was on Oct 14, 2001, but I didn’t find another one for 15 years! This beauty was discovered in Sept 2016, after flipping over an old railroad tie; photo by Rachel Anderson 

Some interesting patterns appear when you record phenology in one location over many years, and each spring my journal entries are particularly full of first arrivals. 

Spring after spring, Brown Thrashers arrive first, followed closely by the Blue-gray Gnatcatchers making their squeaky-chew-toy calls and the tail-pumping Louisiana Waterthrushes.  By the first week of April, these birds, plus Northern Parulas, are always present, while other species like Black-and-white Warblers and Blue-headed Vireos are sometimes seen, sometimes not. 

It’s always the male hummingbirds that arrive first at my feeders, usually two weeks before the females; photo courtesy Ronald Manley 

On the other hand, the earliest Rose-breasted Grosbeaks seen at my feeders have been females ; photo courtesy Graham Gerdeman

From my journal entries, I know any day now could mark the arrival of a solitary Scarlet Tanager in bold red and black, and one morning soon many, many Tennessee Warblers will suddenly appear, filling the air with their sharp, staccato song.   

For Indigo Buntings, we must wait until mid-April before getting a peek at their brilliant blue plumage; photo courtesy Deb Beazley 

And the familiar, rather haunting calls of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo won’t echo through my yard until May  

Flipping through my journal, I realize it’s a repeating series of appointments that I can’t wait to keep.  While all of my other social plans are put on hold and life seems suspended, my journal tells me not all of life is still right now.  Each day will bring a new, welcome and anticipated visitor to my home – all I have to do is open the door and go outside. 

Bouquets of (Yard) Flowers

Shared by Heather Gallagher
Naturalist at the Nature Center
heather.gallagher@nashville.gov

My husband and I are the “yard people” in our neighborhood. He works tirelessly every Saturday to cut and trim our shrubs and grass to make everything perfect.  

But there is still life in the yard, and this “staycation” has given me the opportunity to find it. 

He’s allowed me to plant a few natives, such as this coral honeysuckle, with the understanding that it will attract ruby-throated hummingbirds as it comes into full bloom in early April. And we have the redbud trees flowering this time of year, covered in early spring pollinators. 

We grow coral honeysuckle on a trellis as well as over the mailbox. 

Redbud trees are native, shrubby trees that will thrive in sun or shade.

We even have a few old timey shrubs that you would expect to find in any Tennessee yard: golden forsythia and budding-out sweet shrub. We also have irises—they came with the house.  

My grandmother grew Sweet Shrub/"Sweet Bubby" in her yard.

An Iris bed is almost a staple in any southern yard!

Much to my husband's dismay, we don’t treat our yard, and, therefore, we have what he considers to be “weeds”. So what really excited me this spring was exploring closely for these weeds or what I call yard wildflowers, those that typically disappear with that first mow of the year or weed killer. 

Four-petalled bluets are very common this time of year. They prefer acidic soil, and you may even find them growing in mossy areas. The more acidic the soil, the “bluer” the bluet! 

Look closely for Four-petalled Bluets in the mossy areas of your yard.

Field pansies are related to violets, and they grow in patches everywhere! I have observed almost pure white to purple, and everything in between; their variation is incredible.  

Field Pansies paint our yard white in early spring.

Common violets can be found in the shady areas usually. These are growing beneath a cherry tree in a marshy area.  

Common Blue Violets are wonderful flowers for early spring pollinators. 

So even if you can’t get out to your favorite park, take a hike around your backyard—or your front yard for that matter. Observe the flowers of your labors through small treasures that you don’t normally get to enjoy.