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Bird of the Week: Common bird songs

Spring is in the air! It may feel chilly and look gloomy outside, and the calendar may say that it is technically still winter, but if you head outside and listen, you’ll hear the birds telling a different story!  

White-throated Sparrows 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AGFC) - Spring is in the air! It may feel chilly and look gloomy outside, and the calendar may say that it is technically still winter, but if you head outside and listen, you’ll hear the birds telling a different story!

Some of the more common species have already starting singing, which means they are defending territory and/ or looking for mates. The Carolina Chickadee’s familiar “fee-bee, fee-bay” song is loud and clear in backyards, city parks, and forest edges. The White-throated Sparrows who spent their winters here are practicing their song so they are ready when they arrive back at their breeding grounds in another few weeks, and their “Oh-sweet-canada-canada” is a common sound right now. The ever-present American Robins are becoming vocal as ever, with their clear whistling song that says, “cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up”. This song is a harbinger of spring for many.

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer in the coming weeks, we’ll be hearing more and more species join the fun. Many of the birds who have spent their winter here in Arkansas will head north, and we’ll be seeing new arrivals from Mexico, the Bahamas, Brazil, and beyond! Keep your eyes and ears open for birds and their songs.

Is your backyard bird-friendly? Will your trees host nesting hummingbirds, orioles, or warblers? Encourage migrating birds to call your yard home by planting native plants, offering a water source like a bird bath, and keeping cats indoors. It is an exciting time of year! Wonder who will show up at your house tomorrow! I’ve spotted Purple Martins already, and Black-and-white Warblers will arrive very soon.

(Source: AGFC)

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