Spring on the Wing

With warm weather in the last week or so, you might be feeling spring in the air, and although the wetland still has the look of winter with the brown-gray-tan look of dormant vegetation, you'll find early signs of spring as migratory animals appear. Osprey, returning from wintering in South America, have been seen fishing in the Run since late February, and with migratory river herring making their way from the ocean inland to spawn, we have the only-in-early-spring opportunity to see them together overhead, as in this picture taken Saturday by Todd Kiraly.

Numerous red-winged blackbirds can be seen and heard all around the wetland, and especially in the interior marsh, and this week there have been many raptors: red-shouldered hawk, Cooper's hawk, and bald eagle, for starters. Other birds will be passing through soon as the annual spring migration really gets underway. Without all the spring foliage, right now is a great time to observe wildlife at Four Mile Run Park.

Help welcome our feathered visitors this month with our land-based volunteer litter clean-ups Sunday mornings March 13 and 20. More to come in April!