A golden-crowned kinglet sings. (Scot Stewart photo)

“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” – Victor Hugo

Sure, seems like there is a change coming with longer and longer days and some relatively temperate days in the 40’s. Add Daylight Savings Time next weekend and it will definitely feel like the season is about to change, even though there will probably still be more snow for another month or so.

There are songs in the air. Chickadees started their courtship chatter about a week ago. Herring gulls are calling as they swing out from the lake to the county landfill for a bite to eat. Changes to the Picnic Rocks parking lot in Marquette have made it more challenging to check on the gulls there as the watch for the season’s first ring-billed gulls and other species travelling along the lakes in their spring wanderings.

There are other pieces of the early spring mystique. American robins. Most people just think robins — the state bird for Michigan (Connecticut and Wisconsin too), but there are a number of other species of robins living south of the border so birders and ornithologists like to separate them into all the species. Robins are the ultimate spring arrival. When someone sees one in late winter or early spring they often count this as their first real sign of spring.

An American robin was seen at the edge of Bothwell Middle School in south Marquette Tuesday afternoon, sitting atop a large aspen tree, calling out occasionally while it looked across the open area below. Some winters robins remain in the Marquette, and occasionally the Munising area, depending on good crops of mountain ash and or crab apple fruits to get through the winter. Several years ago, one robin hung out next to the Marquette County Jail, feeding on the crab apples around the courthouse and taking shelter near a heat exchange vent next to the building.

This winter robins have not been reported on any web listserves this winter across the northern U.P., although they can move from areas with small numbers of fruits available this winter to another quickly this winter without being noticed or reported, but one in the Bothwell area would not be a surprise due to the number of crab apple trees in the area still bearing some fruit.

On the Dead River another pair of “spring” arrivals was found on Saturday. Two trumpeter swans been visiting feeders west of the Holy Cross Cemetery and have behaved as though they are well accustomed to people, sometime swimming right to them when they arrive at the river’s edge. It is a somewhat magical experience watching two graceful wild birds glide right up to an observer, truly creating a sense of connection with all that is wild in the Upper Peninsula. The swans’ occasional trumpets break through the stillness of the river adding to the wilderness feel the birds create.

The pair are currently feeding with a large number of mallards, common goldeneyes and black ducks on the river. Bald eagles have also been seen cruising the river edges looking for potential prey. At feeders nearby a male cardinal and a golden-crowned kinglet have also appeared.

Crows are also becoming vocal and more social. On the Giant’s Foot Water Tower in south Marquette, a large congregation of crows assembled on Tuesday there, with much fanfare. Pairs circled the tank and many called from the top of the tank where they sat. A many as 50 crows have been seen congregating atop the tank on occasion in the past.

A huge mixed flock of birds was seen along the trail to Sugar Loaf north of Marquette, also on Tuesday. Travelling with black-capped chickadees, white and red-breasted nuthatches were a brown creeper and a golden-crowned kinglet. While the latter two are rare winter residents in the U.P. they both have been seen more frequently this winter. By traveling together, they can rely on the multitude of eyes to watch for danger and feed more easily. The flock appeared quite relaxed and feed quite close to observers.

Chukars were seen again near downtown Marquette Tuesday. After being seen in traffic on Washington Street the week before, it seems the group has moved north, closer to feeders on Bluff Street. The Eurasian gamebirds were probably released in or near the city and are relying on feeders to sustain them through the winter months as they are ground feeders and would struggle to find enough food on the heavy layer of snow in the wild outside of town.

Winds and warmer temperatures will also play a huge role in the position of ice on Lake Superior through the next few weeks in the Marquette area. The position of the ice and the locations of open water will greatly affect the numbers and diversity of ducks and gulls in the coming weeks, as they seek places to feed, rest, preen and prepare for spring, whether it’s to find a place to nest here or simply wait before heading farther north. They too will anxiously await the coming days and conditions of spring as will birders looking for more signs of the coming spring.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Scot Stewart is a teacher at Bothwell Middle School in Marquette and a freelance photographer.