March 20th officially marked the first day of spring, but indicators of seasonal change have been present for months, if you know where to look.
The first shrub to bud and flower every year, without fail, is Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis). We’ve noticed buds as early as the first part of January, and its bright green leaves are a beautiful spectacle in a mostly leafless understory. The same can be said for Indian plum’s hanging white flowers, which typically appear before its leaves – a unique quality for any shrub species.
With the flowers come the pollinators. The gorgeous flowers of red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), a hummingbird delicatessen, start to bloom shortly after Indian plum. This is when we begin to see territorial displays and hear the wiry vocalizations of these small migrants. The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) can travel over 4,000 miles from its wintering grounds in Central America to its breeding grounds, which range from Oregon to Alaska. Every year its arrival is precisely timed for the blooms of early spring.
Spring also brings the sound of familiar songs not heard for many winter months. The mating calls of song sparrows, American robins, redwinged blackbirds, and Pacific tree frogs are welcomed tunes indicative of warmer weather to come. Bug-eating specialists, like swallows and some wood warblers, usually return to the Northwest later in the season after a harrowing four to six thousand mile journey from Central or South America.
Soon, animals will be competing for audio air space in their search for mates, and the forests will be filled with nature’s orchestra.