March 9 2013. Cootes Paradise, Hamilton ON. I was heartened today to hear Song Sparrows singing. That may well be the last time I’ll feel that way for the rest of the year, they become so ubiquitous, so much part of the background clutter. But when you’ve just come out the other side of a traditional no-holds-barred winter, bird song on a warmish day, even that of a Song Sparrow, gives you a lift, enough to make Bird of the Day. Two of them were chasing each other around the dried spikes of a marsh full of cattails, singing, chasing, squabbling or maybe courting, I wasn’t sure which and it didn’t matter. They were singing spring.
As I sat on a bench enjoying a sunshine moment I became aware of other friends who have probably been holding their breath waiting for a break in the weather. A White-breasted Nuthatch, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a couple of White-throated Sparrows came close in hopes that I was bringing food. In the hazy distance I could make out the white head of a Bald Eagle on its nest.
A little later I heard another what I concluded to be a Song Sparrow trying out its song although with limited success. At first I thought I was hearing a dyspeptic Marsh Wren, which would have been unusually early by about 2 months. I’m inclined to revisit the same spot and listen again, but for now I favour the song of a young or early season Song Sparrow.