Here they come again... 

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about that snappy Dolly Parton song, “Here You Come Again.” The view outside my windows is changing rapidly as birds I haven’t seen for a few months “come again” to my feeders. Not all birds do a dramatic move from south to north, but many species begin to migrate this time of year to find their breeding area or look for new sources of food.

Brown thrasher. Photo by Monica Hoel

Even while it’s still cold outside, seeing the return of familiar feathered-faces gets me thinking about warm days to come – days where I’ll be on the water at Hungry Mother State Park.

Hearing boisterous red-winged blackbirds lets me know it’s time to clean the cobwebs out of my kayak. I better also polish the fingerprints off my binoculars, so I don’t miss anything.

Red-winged blackbird. Photo by Monica Hoel

Spotting bad-mannered brown-headed cowbirds reminds me that it’s almost time to see warblers and summer visitors out by Hungry Mother’s Mitchell Valley boat ramp. That’s where I’ve seen and heard black-and-white warblers, a northern parula, yellow-billed cuckoos, a hooded warbler, indigo buntings, a double-crested cormorant and even a scarlet tanager.

Seeing beautifully shiny heads of common grackles reminds me of floating over by the spillway and watching a demanding juvenile grackle beg for food.

Grackle. Photo by Monica Hoel

These birds who have “come again” are the harbingers of warm days and more interesting moments with nature sure to come soon. The birds don’t need to know why I’m excited to see them – or why I’m singing that they’re “looking better than a birdie has a right to.” I’ll just keep putting out bird seed and cleaning up my life jacket.

Come attend a nature program at Hungry Mother State Park to experience spring’s wildlife visitors.

Black and white warbler. Photo by Monica Hoel