March 27, 2008 [LINK / comment]

Purple finches everywhere

I went for a walk behind the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad this morning, and the sound of all the birds singing was like a symphony. Purple finches were in abundance nearly everywhere I went, nibbling on buds high in the tree tops. Even with the overcast skies, the air was mild and full of floral fragrance. Today's highlights:

Also, I heard a Phoebe in the distance.

Horseshoe crabs

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed a bill imposing a halt on harvesting Horseshoe crabs, upon which the sandpiper species known as Red knots depends during its northward spring migration. (Hat tip to Charles Ziegenfus.)

I previously wrote about Horseshoe crabs and Red knots in Feb. 2006.