SCOTT SHALAWAY Flora and fauna exhibit the signs of spring

The calendar may tell us otherwise, but spring begins in April. Longer days cue both plants and animals that sunshine and consistently warmer temperatures are more than just a promise. Get outdoors and you, too, will realize that spring has sprung.
Lawns are greening up, so the hum of mowers can't be far behind. Lilacs buds are swollen with the promise of both flowers and fragrance. Coltsfoot, one of the first wildflowers of the year, is in full bloom along country roads. The flower suggests dandelion, but the absence of leaves confirms coltsfoot's identity. Its leaves grow later. Dandelions will follow soon enough.
Peepers sing: On chilly evenings, spring peepers pipe from puddles in the woods. And wood frogs quack like a flock of mallards from soggy ditches and roadside ruts. Salamanders busy themselves beneath logs and rocks.
High in the trees great horned owls tend to snow white owlets that hatched weeks ago. Along lakes and rivers, bald eagle eggs are beginning to hatch. And on the highest ledges of skyscrapers all across the country, successfully reintroduced peregrine falcons are incubating eggs. In a few weeks when these eggs hatch, carefully butchered pigeon fillets will sate the hungry broods and more than a few neotropical migrants will round out the peregrine menu.
At dusk in forest openings and on grassy ridge tops, woodcock dance. The male spits out his nasal love song, then jumps to the sky for his aerial ballet. Moments later, it's back to earth and more of that peculiar serenade.
Gray and fox squirrels are less obvious in April. She's busy nursing the brood born a few weeks ago, and he's recovering from the territorial wars waged by successful breeders. .
Avian chorus: In the backyard, the spring chorus gets bigger and louder every day. Carolina wrens build new nests and may have already begun laying eggs. Bluebird boxes hold simple cups of grass or pine needles. Clutches of sky blue eggs are just days away.
Towhees returned two weeks ago, but still seem more intent on feeding than nesting, at least for the moment. Between snacks of sunflower seeds, they scratch the leaf litter in search of sluggish insects, spiders, and centipedes.
Phoebes establish favorite perches from which to launch attacks on the growing number of flying insects. Between flights, they call their own names while pumping their tails downward.
Goldfinches have begun their transformation from nondescript olive & quot;dickie birds & quot; into the spectacular yellow, black, and white beauties many call wild canaries. It may be early May until the molt is complete, but it's a metamorphosis worth the wait.
Song sparrows have been singing for weeks, but they'll wait a bit longer for some new plant growth to conceal their first nesting attempt. To jump the gun would invite predators to an easy meal.
Perhaps the most annoying signs of spring are those macho, oversexed individual birds, usually cardinals and robins (though I've seen bluebirds, towhees, chipping sparrows, and mockingbirds do it, too), that battle their reflections in windows, hubcaps, or car mirrors. Battles can go on for hours, while the war may last weeks. What's a homeowner to do?.
Eliminate reflective surfaces by covering them. This works, but you lose the use of windows and mirrors. Besides, the bird just moves to another one.
Good solution: The best solution I've heard is this -- buy a few fake birds at a craft store and place them in plain view on the inside window sill. The presence of these strange birds can deceive even the most aggressive warriors. Change the dummy birds' positions periodically to enhance the illusion. It may not work every time, but it's worth a try. If anyone has a better solution, I'd love to hear it.
Meanwhile, if all else fails, stock up on window cleaner and paper towels. Better yet, get outside and make a list of your favorite signs of spring. It will keep your mind off those dirty windows.
UCatch Scott's radio show on the internet every Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 at www.1360wptt.com.