MARCH NATURE NOTES

Early March is a very stressful time for wildlife - particularly birds. It is important to continue feeding birds because their natural food supplies are at the lowest point of the year. Unpredictable weather also challenges birds’ survival—particularly as they prepare for the nesting season. Providing food can make a difference. Offering birds high-energy foods that contain fat and protein (suet and peanuts) will substitute for low insect populations that are difficult to find early in the month.

- New Moon: March 15

- Full Moon: March 29

- Daylight Savings Time (“spring forward”): March 14

- Vernal Equinox (with day and night almost equal): March 20

- Last Call – beginning of March is the time to clean out Bluebird nest boxes for the 2010 nesting season - Bluebirds will be more widespread throughout March and begin mating toward the end of the month

- Mating Season for Barred and Screech Owls

- Courtship Activity For: Cardinals, Blue Jays, Downy Woodpeckers and White-breasted Nuthatches - Wild Turkeys will begin gobbling – males will strut and seek females

- Phoebes, Tree Swallows, Red-wing Blackbird females and Grackles return - Remember Tree Swallows are cavity nesters and will quickly occupy an available Bluebird nest box

- Check for Gypsy Moth egg masses on hardwood tress – remove any found

- Ladybugs begin to appear – particularly in homes

- On warm days, look for tiny black specs on the snow which are Snow Fleas - use a magnifying lens to observe these 6 legged insects which are a type of springtail that use their tails to jump around - particularly if you try to touch them