Spring arrived on March 19, St. Joseph's Day, so I went out looking for evidence of it. Saturday I went to Five Rivers searching especially for Wood Ducks. I saw Black Ducks and Mallards and lots of Geese, but no Wood Ducks. Painted Turtles had ventured out to sun themselves on logs. Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs were cacophonous! Honeysuckle leaves were just easing open, checking out the weather. Willow branches had turned their yellowish golden color, swaying in the breeze. Pussy willows bloomed with buds of soft whitish "toes". Maples were budding too in a rich crimson. Alders sported their cat-kins. I found a lovely sun-soaked spot where colt's foot smiled their sweet yellow flowers. No Wood Ducks
Sunday I went to Vicher's Ferry. The day struggled to get out of the 30's, but the sky was bright blue. Wigeons, Ring-Necked Ducks, Black Ducks, Mallards, Gadwalls, Canada Geese by the score. Red-winged Blackbirds flashed orange-red shoulder patches and called raucously. No Wood Ducks. 
The Wood Ducks would keep calling to me on a springtime quest. In the meantime, I don't want to miss all the other wonders of spring!

Right now it is hard to venture far from home. But there are signs of spring right out your window, right in your neighborhood. What are you seeing and hearing?

Wood Duck Male
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id


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