Red-winged Blackbirds are returning to Ohio! Each February, one of the sure signs we are ALMOST done with winter is hearing and seeing Red-winged Blackbirds. This was one of two I heard and saw that morning in the latter half of the month with the promise of more to come soon!
Athena (I think) fluffing her (?) wings on a cold morning. Sadly, we lost our female eagle two years ago from the nest across the river. Happily though a new female, Athena, has been hanging around with our male, Apollo. Well more than hanging out. I think she like likes him. Fingers crossed for a successful family.
There’s a lot to unpack in this photo so bear with me. The Trumpeter Swans, the two in the water, generally stick around central Ohio all year. The Tundra Swans on the ice come down from, you guessed it, a super cold tundra far north. The Trumpeter Swans also have 2 young and are slightly defensive of their territory. So in this photo, the parent Trumpeter Swans are reminding the Tundra Swans they are visitors to this lake and to stay away from the young ones. They didn’t fully chase them off but wanted to send a message.
And one more sign of spring on the way, our Canadian Geese are becoming more active and vocal as the days grow longer.
Looking forward to March and all of the arriving migrants we will see, check back soon for more of my bird nerdiness :)!