Signs of Spring: Nature's Awakening and Wildlife Returns in March

Field report

The vernal equinox, a chorus of returning frogs, and the first wildflowers pushing through last year's leaves are a few of the month's wonders.

And just like that: it's already the third month of the year. How are you? Ready for spring? In ecological terms, 2023 is off to a quiet start. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, that's not such a bad thing. Forests are still bare, devoid of the incessant noises of warmer months, calm and cold. It's a great time to reflect, breathe deep, and enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons. So get out there and revel in the quiet while you can. Summer is coming.

Your Last (Likely) Month for Quiet Winter Walks

March is likely your last month to walk through the woods in near-silence. Why? Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, resulting in crisp, still conditions in winter. Spring and summer days, on the contrary, are generally humming with insect song and birdsong. Combine this with long nights (at least until daylight saving time crashes the party) and you've got some great opportunities for you (or the whole family) to enjoy the hushed landscape well before the season shifts.

Watch for the First Migratory Birds Returning North (March 1)

Jupiter and Venus will have a seemingly close encounter in the western sky in the early evening hours of March 1st. Credit:Stellarium

Ever noticed the first robin of spring? On March 1st, you might see one just after sunrise when the first wave of red-winged blackbirds, robins, and killdeer arrive in northern latitudes. This is technically the beginning of the great spring migration—a mass movement of birds following the retreating frost line northward.

As ornithologists explain, while these early arrivals may seem eager, the reality behind their journey is more complex: "Although they certainly look eager to claim territory, many of these early males are taking a significant risk—arriving before insects are abundant means they must survive on berries and seeds, sometimes enduring late snowstorms that can wipe out entire populations of early migrants."

Look to hedgerows and field edges just after dawn to see these first bold arrivals and then watch as more species follow as March moves on.

Marvel at the Emergence of Earthworms and Early Spring Thaw (March 7)

Of all the nicknames given to describing natural events throughout the year, "worm" may be one of the most cringe-inducing. Nonetheless, that's the most popular designation for March's seasonal milestone, which reaches its peak around the evening of March 7 as frost leaves the ground. The Farmer's Almanac reports that the slimy moniker is in recognition of the emergence of earthworms to mark the early days of spring. But you know what? I think it's time for a rebranding strategy.

For instance, the Ojibwe—the most populous tribe in North America—have long referred to March's full Moon as the "Sugar Moon," a more appetizing association in recognition of sugar maple trees producing vast quantities of delicious sap. Some other names include the "Goose Moon," (Cree), "Crow Comes Back Moon" (Northern Ojibwe), and the relatable "Sore Eyes Moon" (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine) from the glare of sun off melting snow.

But hey—earthworms arevitally important to our ecosystems, so maybe giving them a bit of recognition isn't such a bad idea. Keep shining on, you beautiful Worm Moon.

Daylight Saving Time is Coming For Your Sleep (March 12)

Okay, so it's not strictly a wildlife event, but the arrival of "Spring Forward" with Daylight Saving Time on March 12 at 2 a.m. EST does cut into opportunities for easy waking-hours enjoyment of dawn choruses and early wildlife activity. As David Dickinson of Universe Todayexplains:

"For naturalists, the shift to DST means that true dawn chorus falls much later relative to the clock, marking the abrupt end of the before-work birdwatching season not long after March. You don't have to go far north to about latitude 45 degrees to find areas where dawn chorus doesn't peak until about 6 a.m. local towards mid-summer."

As Davidson points out, we do gain a bit of extra evening light, but even that lasts only so long as we march toward summer. Whether you're a night owl or an early riser, coffee is a naturalist's best friend going forward.

The First Salamander Migrations of the Season (March 14-15)

For our friends in milder climates, March 14-15 marks the peak of spotted salamander migration to vernal pools. While not one of the more visible annual wildlife events—these nocturnal amphibians travel only on rainy nights—they do dazzle—with descriptions ofbright yellow and orange spots against glossy black skin. In some years,as many as 200 salamanders in a single night, the migrations also feature dozens of wood frogs croaking from the same pools.

For best viewing, head out on a mild, rainy evening and look for salamanders crossing forest roads nearwetland breeding poolsafter dark.

Celebrate the Vernal Equinox (March 20)

While it's still a bit early to put away the snow shovels and bury the winter coats in storage,the vernal equinoxis nonetheless a promising milestone in our movement toward warmer weather and increasingly longer days. For those down in the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite holds true. Wherever you are, the vernal equinox for 2023 will officially begin on March 20 at approximately 5:24 a.m. EST. On this date, the sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west, with sunlight striking both hemispheres equally. It's also one of only two dates throughout the year when both day and night are equal in length.

A Quiet Walk Reveals the First Spring Ephemerals (March 21)

There's no better way to enjoy the crystal-clear conditions of March than with a walk through a forest where the bare canopy still lets in abundant sunlight. If you want a destination, try finding a patch of skunk cabbage or hepatica—some of the very first wildflowers to emerge. Located in moist, low-lying woods, they are among the most hardy and determined plants you can find. To locate them, head out when the soil has begun to thaw and look for them along stream banks and south-facing slopes. Spring ephemerals are a bit notorious among wildflower enthusiasts for being fleeting—blooming for only a few days before the canopy closes—so if you own a wildflower guide, bring it along to help identify what you find!

Like the earliest migrants in the bird world, these first flowers may face late freezes and even snow. Other scenarios have them waiting beneath the leaf litter for just the right warm spell. The good news is, the forest has evolved remarkable strategies for coping with unpredictable spring weather over millions of years.

Watch for Early-Emerging Butterflies on Sunny Days (March 21)

Spotted in early spring and originally mistaken for moths, the mourning cloak and eastern comma butterflies have since been recognized as some of the earliest butterflies to take flight and are among the most recognizable insects emerging in March woodlands.

On March 21, these butterflies will be at their most visible on warm afternoons, and despite their relatively drab upper wings, will be easy to spot as they bask in sunlit patches on the forest floor. Fortunately, viewing conditions will be at their best thanks to the open canopy before leaves emerge.Look for them along muddy trailsand stream edges where sap flows from wounded trees.

The Great Sap Run Marks the Turn of the Season (All Month)

Sugar maple sap, the sweetest and most iconic harbinger of spring in northern forests, may begin flowing in earnest this month. The sap runs when freezing nights give way to thawing days—a pressure differential that pushes sap upward from the roots through the trunk. Upon tapping, the clear, faintly sweet liquid drips into buckets, ready to be boiled down into syrup.

Last month, maple sugaring operations successfully produced early batchesthat saw some of the sweetest sap in years. According to syrup producers, the freeze-thaw cycling generated by late winter weatherwas enough tokeep the sap flowing steadily. All that remains now is for warm days to become more consistent, a shift they expect to happen soon.

Should the sap run be successful, sugarmakers have their eyes set on producing enough maple syrup to carry communities through the year. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for steam rising from sugar shacks all month.