Jeepers, creepers, we've got those peepers

[weatherman]

Thanks Jazzbo! Someone does not think I'm totally nuts... Today there were a gazillion birds, migrating white-throated sparrows, courting cedar waxwings, etc.... it's here.
Weatherman

 

[Jazzbo]

Cardinals are our spring's here indicator

Here at our home in Waltham MA, every year in March we have a cardinal posted high in trees in our backyard making a beautiful call early in morning as I'm getting in car to go to off to work.

 

[jrichard]

No spring peepers here on a north-facing southern NH hill, at least didn't hear any yet. But there's still ice on the ponds. Soon, I hope.

We used to have wonderful Whip-poor-wills that would chant all night long outside our window at the onset of spring. I'd keep the window open a crack to hear them. Sadly, they haven't come back since 2001.

 

[charlos]

heard the first peeps last thursday night here in accord ny....58 degrees today.....bluebirds galore!

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Last night on the drive home, NHPR broadcast a story about the spotted salamander and its vernal pool companions, the peepers (and other frogs.) Here is the story online, with archived audio as well:

http://www.nhpr.org/node/15740

Tim

 

[Solitary]

Mine are still frozen solid, under two feet of ice.

Mine too

 

[bikehikeskifish]

We used to have wonderful Whip-poor-wills that would chant all night long outside our window at the onset of spring. I'd keep the window open a crack to hear them. Sadly, they haven't come back since 2001.

I've had them for many years, but they don't show up until late spring. I think of them more as a sign that summer is coming. They seem to show up right around the time when leaving the windows open in the evening is viable.

Tim

 

[sardog1]

Snowshoed around several vernal pools today. Water is mostly open but nothing going on yet in any of them, except one with particularly strong sunlight exposure had some algae.

Found some boughs that had been broken off for a day nest or perhaps to freshen up a den. I left bruin to it . . .

 

[marty]

Took my dog Bemis out for her morning constitutional about 5:30 am today. Heard two peepers out in our wetlands. This is a day earlier than 2006 and 5 days earlier than last year. It is the earliest date that I can recall hearing them.

It was about 38 degrees early this morning. I would guess the first warm night we get that they will be calling in mass numbers.

Spring has sprung again in Boxford, MA

Marty

 

[sardog1]

They would need ice augers up here right now in SE NH.

However, the hawks have started to arrive, in small numbers so far. And the grouse has made its annual plunder of my aspen buds.

 

[Jazzbo]

Waiting for report from Weatherman

Thanks for commenters on peepers. They are worth monitoring. I don't live close enough to peeper habitat to collect data in consistant fashion, but I do appreciate getting it from others.

Weatherman .... where are you? You're the only one who's given us something resembling objective data. Just the facts mame. I want data ... not mood swings! Just to re-cap weatherman's data set from last year on this thread:

"First peepers in Shrewsbury, MA:
2005 4/1 (snow total 100.9")
2006 3/31 (snow total 58.4")
2007 3/27 (snow total 38.3"- boo)
2008 4/1 (snow total 69.2" so far)

Remarkably consistent!"

 

[sardog1]

I want data ... not mood swings! Just to re-cap weatherman's data set from last year on this thread:

Ask and ye shall receive: Data from Maine for the phenologically-obsessed among you.

 

[forestgnome]

Call me crazy, but I swear I heard frogs about a mile up the Livermore Trail (Lily Pond end) last Saturday. There were woodpeckers around, whose drumming sounds similar but woody. The sound had a distict high-pitched whistle sound. There were at least two. I tried to find them but could not because the sound stopped as I approached. It's a swampy area, west of the trail, but only the main drainage was free of snow, barely.

Peepers or woodfrogs, or something else?

happy trails

 

[weatherman]

Sorry, work and other things have kept me from the boards lately.
No peepers yet. Redwing blackbirds arrived on 3/15, a good 10 days later than typical, though the snow has been gone for a couple weeks now. I'll post when I hear more - I have a feeling it'll be this weekend.
We got 68.5 inches of snow (so far!) this season at my house.

Weatherman

 

[Trainwreck]

No peepers yet, I love them.
BUT I have a woodpecker that is doing some "construction" right ouside my window...
Some green things are peeking out of the ground!!!

 

[weatherman]

Ask and ye shall receive: Data from Maine for the phenologically-obsessed among you.

Too bad the site referenced was last updated in 2006. Looks like a good one if it were updated!

 

[Jim lombard]

I guess the groundhog was wrong. Blackbirds returned to Southern NH two weeks ago. That's their earliest return home I can remember.

 

[1ADAM12]

Here is Northern PA I noticed them last week during the warm spell.

 

[weatherman]

Peepers today in Shrewsbury, MA! might have heard a couple yesterday but not sure, definitely a bunch in several sites today.

Didn't get out and play enough in the snow this year. Hopefully next year. In the meantime, got a couple lists to finish up in 2009.
Weatherman

 

[Jazzbo]

Updated data set for Shrewsbury MA

First peepers in Shrewsbury, MA:

2005 4/1 (snow total 100.9")
2006 3/31 (snow total 58.4")
2007 3/27 (snow total 38.3"- boo)
2008 4/1 (snow total 69.2")
2009 3/28 (snow total 68.5")