Sounds of (early) Spring #phenology

As we let one of the dogs out this morning, we heard, very briefly, either geese gabbling or turkeys gobbling. We're not sure which but lean toward the gabbling since it may be a little too early for turkey gobbling. In either case, the sounds of Spring are upon us. What others are there?

a red-winged blackbird has returned to the marsh

Photo by J. Harrington

• the territorial / mating calls of birds, especially those of returned red-winged blackbirds;
• the susurration sounds of running water;
• the drip, drip, plip, plop of dripping water;
• the cracking and crunching of ice cover breaking up;
• we can't hear the soft sounds of sap rising or new growth emerging, but know it's there;
• the rumble and crash of the season's first thunderstorm;
• the splash of boots and tires in puddles;
• the peeping and croaking of spring peepers, tree and wood frogs;
• the buzzing of bees; and,
• the "thwap" of a baseball being caught in a glove and the crack of a bat hitting ball

drip, drip, plip, plop signals melting ice and snow

Photo by J. Harrington

What have we missed? What are your favorite sounds of early Spring?

Spring

By Mary Oliver

I lift my face to the pale flowers
of the rain. They’re soft as linen,
clean as holy water. Meanwhile
my dog runs off, noses down packed leaves
into damp, mysterious tunnels.
He says the smells are rising now
stiff and lively; he says the beasts
are waking up now full of oil,
sleep sweat, tag-ends of dreams. The rain
rubs its shining hands all over me.
My dog returns and barks fiercely, he says
each secret body is the richest advisor,
deep in the black earth such fuming
nuggets of joy!

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