I admit I am not a patient person when it comes to spring. I love the almost daily influx of new migratory birds on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge each spring. The sights and sounds of newly arriving birds gives me a rebirth of excitement for another year of bird watching and photography.
One of those species of birds I so “patiently” wait for is the yellow headed blackbird. For me it is one of those avian species which denotes spring is on its way. It is still a couple months too early for this year but with how warm and dry our winter has been I am hoping for some earlier than usual arrivals of this beautiful but noisy marsh bird.
The yellow headed blackbird is a very common sight on the refuge each summer. They feast on a seemingly endless supply of bugs along the roadside, making for quite up close and personal interactions with this particular blackbird. Each summer as they begin their mating ritual the marsh comes alive with a harsh chatter from the males as they posture and display for mates and also for real estate for their summer endeavors.
I admit I love the sound of the red winged blackbird much more from a musical standpoint but the raspy call of the yellow headed blackbird is a summer song I long for each winter. I spend countless hours on the refuge watching and photographing birds each summer and one of those target species I always look for is the yellow headed blackbird.
Migration for this bird can be long. Its range is quite spread out over the western and central part of the United States and Canada. They breed as far as northern Canada and winter as far south as Mexico.
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One trait of the yellow headed blackbird I have seen as summer comes to a close and fall approaches is the massive flocks of these blackbirds in adjoining agricultural areas to the refuge. I can only postulate they are fueling up for their long migration south and when I see these big flocks it will soon be time to say good bye for yet another season.
Now is the time to plan a trip to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge for this spring and summer to hear the raspy chatter of the yellow headed blackbird. The refuge is home to hundreds of different migratory and resident birds which either use the sanctuary for temporary lodging along its northern journey or a rearing place for yet another round of offspring.
Either way I invite all who love birds and nature as much as I do to visit the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge sometime during the year. Spring is my favorite time as I love looking for the new arrivals such as the yellow headed blackbird. Currently the refuge is starting to attract increasing numbers of tundra swans as they head north for their annual return to their nesting grounds. This is also an incredible sight to behold on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge each spring.
I know it is only the end of January but the unusually warm spring like temperatures we are experiencing have me anxiously awaiting the harsh call of the yellow headed blackbird.
