A Turkey Vulture! It was the first returning species that I saw this year, on Feb. 20th. Most Turkey Vultures head to the southeastern US and Mexico for the winter, but some ride it out just to our south over southern New England and the lower Hudson Valley. In the middle of February they start to drift back northward. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles are right behind; they will suddenly appear in your yard one morning under the feeders, or atop a tall tree. Many people associate the "O-ka-leeee" song of the RWBB as the true harbinger of spring's awakening. The bright red and yellow shoulder patches on the glossy black birds are a real crowd-pleaser But just remember who is first, the dark, teetering "buzzard" soaring in the distance. What's Next:
March 1st-7th:
Mute Swan start to ease back into the area, along estuaries on the Hudson River, and eventually onto shallow reservoirs, lakes and ponds as the ice recedes.
Killdeer will show up in almost any short-grass or gravely area, and in agricultural fields. You will almost surely hear them before you spot them.
Next week: Ducks and more
Capital Region Bird-Finding Calendar click here
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