April 8

Back in Alma, I’m taking a midday hike along the Pine River in Conservation Park. Even though I’m familiar with the cold weather and stark landscape of early spring in Mid Michigan, I can’t help but remember the warm breezes and flowery hills I hiked in last week in southern California. Even so, today as I walk through the park, Mother Nature is treating me to a symphony of sounds that mark the onset of this season of courtship and birth. Calls of the wild ring loud and clear. Just past the Eyer bird hut, where a patch of the white stuff still lingers, my ears perk up as I glance up at the leafless canopy to hear the familiar solo of the Tufted Titmouse (stock photo). This bird is a year round resident of the park and is most likely a male singing to let other male Titmice know that this is his nesting territory. Proceeding to the south end of the park where the wetlands are full and teeming with life, I take in the familiar calls of the Chorus Frogs. This sound can be compared to running your thumb down the teeth of a comb. These small, amphibians (stock photo) have recently thawed from their winter torpor and sing to attract a mate. Although quite vocal, they are nocturnal and rarely seen. Approaching one of several ponds, amid the noise of Chorus Frogs, I hear the clucking sound of Wood Frogs. These small amphibians (stock photo) are more commonly seen hopping through the forest leaf litter in the summer and fall. Making my way past the Girl Scout cabin, I come to a pond where, amid the crescendo of Chorus frogs are a few “peeps” of the Spring Peeper. This small amphibian (stock photo) is quite vocal in the spring but rarely seen. Heading back to the car, I’m amazed how different forms of wildlife in the park proclaim the spring season, right on cue.

Early in April

Woodlands awake

On the leaf litter

Crawls a garter snake

Inside the maple

Rises sweet sap

On the bark above

Woodpeckers tap

On the flowing river

Wood ducks return

Signs of the season

I now can discern

D. DeGraaf