What to watch for in March: Migration – the early day
Two species that are very much on people’s radar during March are charismatic hummingbirds. Both Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds start arriving in March, typically during the second week in March for Black-chinned and two weeks later for Ruby-throats. Most likely, the early birds will stay and breed. Later arrivals are just passing through. Hungry hummers will be on the lookout for early-blooming native plants like Cedar Sage and Tropical Sage, Salvia roemeriana and Salvia coccinea, respectively. Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is a native vine that, once established, will attract hummingbirds year after year. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has a suggested hummingbird plant list, as does Travis Audubon.
If the plants the hummingbirds rely on are unavailable, a hummingbird feeder is a welcome sight. The main thing to remember with any bird feeding is to first “do no harm.” With hummingbird feeders, use the proper dilution of water to sugar, which is 1 cup water to ¼ cup white granulated cane (table) sugar (Don’t use honey, artificial sweeteners, agave syrup, or brown sugar, etc. – just use white granulated sugar!). Do not add artificial food color, as the red color of feeders is enough. In fact, naturally occurring nectar is clear. Be sure to discard nectar after two to three days max and wash the feeder before refilling. If you find any sign of mold/fungus or the solution turns cloudy, you’ve left the feeder out too long. Hummingbirds ingesting mold can die from swollen tongues that prevent feeding. If you can’t take the time to keep up with feeder maintenance, plant native plants instead. Learn more about feeding hummingbirds here.
Golden-cheeked Warblers Return
Any day now, some lucky person is going to hear the spring song of the first endangered warbler arriving to nest in the Hill Country. The males usually arrive a little earlier than the females to establish their territories. They will attract them with a buzzy ascending song. Visit Peterson Guide to Bird Sounds to familiarize yourself with the first category song before you go for a walk in the juniper-oak woodlands of western Travis County. You will have a reasonable chance of hearing one, especially in March when they sing a lot and sometimes from an exposed perch. When they have paired up, the males also sing a different second category song, which seems more relaxed. Good places to listen for a Golden-cheeked Warbler include Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metropolitan Park and Warbler Vista on the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

Male Golden-cheeked Warbler. Photo by Jeff Osborne.
Fickle Weather
March can bring windy conditions and temperature swings, which keep birds and bird watchers on their toes. Strong southerly winds mean it’s time to get outdoors and see what birds are on the move, hitchhiking on favorable winds. Strong north winds can stop birds in their tracks (giving the bird watcher an incentive to look for tired birds that unexpectedly drop in for a brief rest before continuing on.) You can enjoy birds no matter what the weather, so take the opportunity to get outdoors and see some new birds!
Featured photo: Migrating Snow Geese over Lake Travis. Photo by Vincent O’Brien