Most birders show reasonable to remarkable understanding of phenology. Our attunement to periodic plant and animal life cycle events explains why we anticipate migration with the eagerness of schoolchildren waiting for the final bell. This phenological fluency also helps us recognize signs of a changing season. For example, we all have birds we associate with the beginning of spring. I and everyone else living in the land of long winters can’t wait to see these harbingers of warmer weather. Have you seen yours yet?

I’m pretty certain I won’t need to go too far out of my way this weekend to spot the grackles and blackbirds that sing spring in these parts. Corey doesn’t mind taking a longer route if it leads to more interesting FOY birds. How about you? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.

Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.