[Naturens] Re: coltsfoot + bird news

Hi Jim, I have been wondering about no one mentioning coltsfoot yet; I have been watching a few yellow balls this week growing next to the bus stop on South Street in Halifax right across from the IWK generator building, and yesterday evening the flowers were finally open. I think there is some underground piping in that area that keeps the soil warmer (snow disappears quicker there). Also, they are bulldozing the adjacent lawn/field for a reason unknown to me; prior to this it seemed to be a somewhat secluded green space (fenced), where there are often song sparrows lurking in the untended hedge and crows hanging out being noisy. A. Woolaver ________________________________ From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford(a)eastlink.ca> Sent: March 31, 2021 4:54 PM To: naturens <naturens(a)chebucto.ns.ca>ca>; Lisa & Dale Eye <dleye(a)hotmail.ca>ca>; Gina Newcombe <gina(a)cheshire-grin.ca> Cc: Sylvia Holmes <sylviaholmes27(a)gmail.com>om>; Pat and Martha Barry <patmarthabarry(a)hotmail.com>om>; Jane Dyke <janedyke44(a)gmail.com> Subject: [Naturens] coltsfoot + bird news MARCH 31/21 - I have a few springtime phenomena to report: a bit of searching finally turned up about 5 flowering heads of coltsfoot along Wolfville’s Oak Avenue; and just north of the Acadia Arena the usual raven nest is occupied again; also today our east-end Wolfville neighborhood is suddenly full of singing song sparrows. Two days ago we had a very vocal male northern flicker. Then yesterday we had an obviously just-arrived bunch of 6+ red-winged blackbirds doing a “group gronk” of constant singing together. Now the migrant American robins are overdue here. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville