I first noticed the shift from winter to spring when I saw a small patch of grass for the first time since November. I had almost forgotten what it looked like! With snow melting or rain coming through to wash away this beloved winter wonderland, I remembered that each season passes and will come again through the endless cycle of nature.

Bewildered by the grass I had euphorically seen for the first time in what felt like years, I noticed another subtle sign of spring. Deep in the ground in front of my house, chipmunks began stirring, anxiously waiting for warmer weather. During the winter, chipmunks burrow underground. Their heart rate slows significantly, which allows them to enter a state of deep sleep. This helps chipmunks to conserve energy while their typical diet of berries and acorns are scarce to find.

When the thick layers of ice that covered the entrance to its underground hole had finally melted, I found myself watching as this friend peeked out of its home to search for long-awaited snacks. Within that brief moment before diving deep underground once more, this chipmunk got the breath of fresh air it has been yearning for.

I, in fact, did the opposite. While peering out my window, comfortable in my own heated home, I held my breath as excitement passed through me. “Spring is finally on its way!” I thought to myself, daydreaming of longer days and warmer nights. After the chipmunk changed the course of my entire morning, I began wondering about the icicles melting from my rooftop, making rhythms on my window frames as water droplets hit their wooden beams. Spring is a time celebrated for its new growth, and I couldn’t help but wonder how thirsty my own fields were. When the ground is deeply frozen, plants cannot access the hydration they need, which often results in the brown grass we often see after the snow melts. Spring is essential for this reason. Warmer weather gives plants the water they need, which can come from snowmelt. This freshwater fuels the quick growth we see during this transitional period.

Photo by Taylor Brennan A droplet is pictured on moss.

Day after day, I am eagerly searching for more subtle signs of spring. When your perspective is set on something, you begin to see more than you may have noticed before. Watching the skies and trees are a great way to keep track of the seasons. Having different bird species come through to sing, grab a snack, or simply pass by can give many hints as to how nature is undergoing inevitable changes.

One species I frequently listen for while searching for spring is the Red-Winged Blackbird. From a winter world that was once filled with the soft sounds of Black-capped Chickadees and cardinals, it has been transformed into an orchestra of squeals and squeaks coming from newly arrived Red-Winged Blackbirds. By the end of the first week in March, flocks of blackbirds have found their summer homes once more, sending winter birds into a flurry as they adjust to having to share their seeds and bird feeders. These birds remind us that signs of spring happen before we see the typical blooming buds or hear busy bees fill our natural spaces.

Next time you are walking the trails at Audubon Nature Community Center or looking out the window while sipping your morning coffee, search for subtle signs of spring and they will make a way to find you.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature. ACNC is located just east of Route 62 between Warren and Jamestown. The trails are open from dawn to dusk and birds of prey can be viewed anytime the trails are open. The Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily except Sunday when it opens at 1 p.m. More information can be found online at auduboncnc.org or by calling (716) 569-2345.