March 23

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 27 degrees and no wind. I stood on the crest of the hill and faced west to view the early spring landscape. Descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I saw three male Redwing Blackbirds perched on trees and cattails around the edge of the ice-covered pond. These colorful black males arrive first in the spring before the less distinctive brown females. I glanced up and watched one do a “song spread”; where he sticks out his red and yellow epaulets, hunches his shoulders and lowers and spreads his tail. This display is for staking out his territory. Soon it will also be used to attract females. Since these birds are easily seen and play an important role in our wetland ecosystems, I plan to closely monitor their population and behavior this year. Next, I followed the trail through Bobolink Meadow where I noticed a half dozen whitetail grazing in the neighbor’s corn stubble. At the entrance to North Woods, I turned south, hiked past Willow Wallow and turned west into Succession Field. Circling around the field, I spotted a couple of Oak leaves sunk down in the snow after the sun and warmed them and melted the snow underneath. I turned back to Willow Wallow where I spotted three more male Redwings perched along the edge of the pond. Climbing Reflection Hill, I paused to watch three more Redwings competing for a specific territory by dodging and swooping at each other. I circled the hill and stopped to look at Grebe Pond. Descending the hill to the south, I passed Frog Fen and continued to Brady Cemetery. Turning north, I entered Native Grassland where I saw my first Robin of the season hopping on the trail in front of me. I came again to Grebe Pond and walked along the edge where I counted seven male Redwings spaced around the edge of the pond perched in trees or on cattails singing to announce their presence. I continued past the barn to the Classroom Building where I reminisced about the buildings that once stood near here. Just south of the classroom building was a large pole barn that was taken down by the Ithaca FFA class in 1994. Just east of the classroom building was a red pole barn that was removed by FFA students in 2001. North of the classroom, next to the storage building was a chicken coop that was removed by Ithaca FFA class in 2003. Attached to the east side of the red barn was a large lean-to that was removed in 2007. Next, I walked east of the parking lot and looked at the old, stone foundation of a farmhouse that once stood here and was torn down in 1995. Then, I checked out the bird feeders where I spotted a Chickadee, a few Mourning Doves and a few Redwings. Finally, we found the car and left for home.

I find that Spring is like an actress, bold,

Who enters Nature's stage on perfect cue,

For weary watchers of the winter's cold

Are tired of black and white and want a hue

Of vibrant leafy green or brilliant red;

They long for yellow daffodils which say

That life and growth and beauty are not dead,

But only for a season had to stay

Beneath the frozen belt of winter's girth.

So out Spring struts, her lines are strong and clear—

Her statement in the smell of soft, damp earth

Compels and captivates for those who hear.

It is impossible to doubt and mope,

When Spring performs, then hearts are full of hope.

Linda Neff