Nature’s Notes: Spring songsters arriving

Early May is an exciting time to enjoy Corridor wildlife. Overwintering birds, like Juncos, have just left for nesting in the north while dozens of southern migrating bird species stop off in Iowa to refuel. They briefly rest and feed in backyards, parks and farms before continuing north.

Orioles and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks show up each spring. Large, showy, and loud they linger to nest here then head south in late summer. In contrast, most colorful May birds are only here for a week or two on their journey north to nest in Minnesota and Canada.

Perhaps the most interesting spring birds are the many species of warblers that pass through the Corridor for a fleeting visit. Sometimes they also stop on their way south in the fall, but May is the prime month to enjoy them. It's either see them now or wait a year until they reappear.

Warblers of many species mostly feed on insects and spiders they catch in trees. They are small, colorful, and active yet easy to miss as they flit through dense branches. Each species has a distinctive call, and experienced birders can identify them by sound.

In early May warblers, thrushes, along with many other migrants appear in unusual places, even tiny suburban backyards and driveways - all places they usually avoid except during migration. They are literally here today, gone tomorrow.

Enjoying spring birds is as easy as sitting in the yard on a quiet May morning. While sipping a cup of coffee, watch and listen intently. Pay special attention to activity in large trees and bushes. Binoculars help spot birds, and either a bird book or bird identification phone app helps distinguish species. Many apps include recordings of bird songs that help use the ears to determine what's lurking in the yard. One of the best is from Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. It's not necessary to tell one type of bird from another to enjoy the spring bird parade, and moments spent outdoors at this delightful time of year are always memorable.

l Marion Patterson is an instructor at Kirkwood Community College. Rich Patterson is the former executive director of Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids.