March Meltdown
It starts with the warmer intensity of the sun and longer length of daylight, drip, drip, drip, becomes a slow dribble as meltwater, obeying the law of gravity, makes its way downhill recharging groundwater, filling the creeks and streams that empty into Lake Michigan. Instead of snowfall we may experience some rain showers, and the March meltdown has begun. The rising daytime temperatures and freezing nights make March the month to tap trees for maple syrup production. It is a great time to get out in the woods or take a walk. March is typically a transitional month; some days feel like spring and others can be held in winter’s grasp.
Collins Marsh State Wildlife area is made of many different ecosystems which create a diverse habitat, attractive as a stopover site for many different species. March at Collins Marsh holds the excitement of welcoming migrating birds seeking a place to rest on their spring journey. Some of the birds that we see at Collins Marsh are residents that have spent the entire winter here, but they may look different. The American goldfinch is a good example of this.
The American goldfinch inhabits fields and forest edges. It is a seed eater, a common feeder bird that enjoys black oil sunflower and Niger seed. In March, the goldfinch goes through a period of transition that enables the bird to go from drab winter coloration with males changing to the bright yellow of its breeding plumage. How does this happen? The birds molt. Molting is an energy intensive change and it is done gradually.
The birds may appear very blotchy in March with yellow patches of feathers, the new feathers replacing the old. It doesn’t happen all at once…each feather ends in a follicle, just as each of our hairs is held in a follicle. As the molt occurs, each feather is replaced with a new feather, one at a time, a pretty amazing process. Breeding plumage in birds is often brightly colored and always distinctive to their species.
Although the females do not exhibit the intense yellow color of the males, they also molt and worn feathers are replaced. Molting can be brought on by seasonal changes in daylength and temperature. If a feather is pulled out by a predator, a new one will grow. Unlike hair, feathers do not continually grow throughout the year. Worn feathers are replaced during the molt and even when needed during the rest of the year. Feathers are truly marvelous structures that keep a bird warm, enable flight, protect them from the elements and either provide camouflage to nesting females or highlight the health of a male for mating.
As March transitions from winter to spring, the migrating birds exhibit their best and brightest coloration for the upcoming breeding season.
There are many things happening at Collins Marsh both in the natural world and at the Neustadter Nature Center. Feel free to come out and enjoy the marsh with its migrating waterfowl, large biodiversity and water filled areas. No matter what the season, there is always natural beauty to be discovered and appreciated.
