April On the Marsh

April on the marsh is a time of rebirth, reproduction, regeneration and return to
productivity fueled by the increasing warmth, length of daylight and precipitation that all
things green need to grow. The trees and shrubs are adorned in catkins covered with
pollen welcoming the native bees as they awake from their winter dormancy.

Amphibians know that it is time to find a mate and lay eggs to populate the wetland,
evidenced by the frog chorus of spring peepers, wood frogs, chorus frogs and more.
Reptiles including turtles and snakes come out of brumation and start to travel to
warm sunny spots seeking the warmth that fuels their activity. Earthworms make their
appearance after every shower leaving the saturated ground and providing a spring
buffet for robins and free bait for kids that like to fish. There is movement everywhere
and reproduction is key to keeping populations of our native species in balance.

Colorful birds appear on the marsh as numerous kinds of ducks and shorebirds
move through on their migration route. Some stay to nest while others simply make a pit stop along their way north. In wooded areas and grasslands, as insect activity increases with the rising temperatures, so do the number of insect eating birds including tree swallows, eastern bluebirds, barn swallows and purple martins.

Hopefully, the osprey pair will once again remodel the nest at the top of the tower and provide an opportunity for all to see through the osprey cam. Early nesters like owls and eagles are feeding young, fluffy, down covered offspring eagerly awaiting their flight from the nest into the
world.

The marsh and surrounding areas come alive with renewed activity in April! It is
an exciting time to witness the regeneration and renewal of our spring landscape as the
gold and brown of winter gradually returns to shades of green.

There are lots of human activities going on at the marsh this time of year as well.
Earth day is celebrated in April. This year it is Wednesday April 22 nd . Celebrations and
events may occur throughout the month. Here at Collins Marsh the CEI bird club hosts
an adopt-a-highway clean up on Saturday April 25 th to keep our natural areas, parking
lots and sections of Hwy JJ clean and looking their best. We encourage participation by
adults who may want to volunteer their time and energy to keep Collins Marsh and
roadways clean and healthy for all to enjoy.
Our featured speaker at the nature center in April is Jim Van Hoof, professional
nature photographer. His images are exceptional and he will be giving us inside
knowledge of how he captures his beautiful bird images. Join us for his presentation on
Saturday April 18 th at 1PM and learn his photography secrets.

A final thought as we celebrate the natural activities of spring all around us, how
about we each do a small act to improve our environment in some way this April. Our
collective action can make a huge difference, an ocean is simply a collection of water
droplets, one at a time, accumulating…plant a native tree, reduce the lawn, participate
in citizen science projects, volunteer, join a friends group, take the kids for a hike and teach them an appreciation for nature and all living creatures. Visit Collins Marsh or
better yet, join our friends group and participate in making Collins Marsh a community
hub for learning about nature and appreciating the wonderful public lands that are
available for our recreation and enjoyment. For more information visit our website
collinsmarsh.org or join our FB group at Neustadter Nature Center. Celebrate Earth Day
by enjoying the wonders of spring.