Birds in the wake of spring

It’s hard to imagine that spring might be around the corner, but there are some signs. First off, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow in Pennsylvania and called for an early spring. And Chuckles VII, a groundhog at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester, Conn., agreed! Here at the Audubon Center we are busy getting ready for maple sugaring, no easy task given the amount of snow in the woods, but a sign of spring nonetheless. The chickadees have switched from their “chicka-dee-dee-dee” song to their slow and sweet “tea-cher” and there have been reports of red-winged blackbirds, though I have not seen any up here yet.A bird that has been seen a lot this winter, and one that tends to make our thoughts turn to warmer weather and the color green, is the eastern bluebird. Some bluebirds usually stay here in the winter, switching their diets from insects to berries. Bluebirds tend to winter in groups or small flocks and find places to roost out of the cold such as porches, under the eaves of houses or even in empty bluebird boxes that are awaiting the next breeding season. This brings them closer to our homes, especially if there is an ample supply of berries. There is nothing better to beat the winter blues than seeing a group of bluebirds with their deep blue upper coloring and rusty or brick-red hue on the throat and breast.Another treat for bird lovers is the infusion of bald eagles to our area. Every year eagles fly down from more frozen northern climes in search of food. Careful observers can often see them on the banks of the Housatonic River in our area, their dark bodies, white heads (on mature birds) and huge size makes them stand out against a background of white. Another great place to see them is at the Shepaug dam where the water is always open and the turbines bring the fish to the surface, making for easy pickings. Admission is free there but reservations are required, 800-368-8954.For another bird-related event, Audubon Sharon and The Moviehouse in Millerton are teaming up to present a screening of the movie “Ghost Bird.” This documentary tells the timely story of the ivory-billed woodpecker’s miraculous rediscovery. The bird’s resurrection was heralded around the world as proof that conservation efforts on behalf of threatened species were making the critical difference between life and death. As this movie explains, the fate of ivory-bills remains uncertain, and the mystery is riveting. The movie will be shown Sunday, Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m. at The Moviehouse. I will introduce the movie and Patrick Comins, director of bird conservation for Audubon Connecticut and president of the Connecticut Ornithological Association will conduct a question-and-answer session afterward. Admission is free. Happy birding! Scott Heth is the director of Audubon Sharon and may be reached at sheth@audubon.org.