I love the red-wings but a few winter over here and the larger flocks arrived in mid-February when Spring was nowhere in sight.

For me, the Common Grackle is more reliable (I know a lot of people hate grackles but I like them). This year I saw the first grackle on March 13.

They're pretty birds and eat caterpillars that defoliate trees.

Claire

Robbins 2 and 3 jays visiting my garden.

Robins for me. And wow have seen some really deep red throated ones. Thought they were Cardinals at first, but closer look...robins.

Robins-lots of them hopping around now.

Juncos cheer me up in winter, too.

Looking forward to seeing the first hummingbird buzz around my kitchen window ;-)

Robins for me (even though I occasionally see them in Winter here) The cardinal singing to reclaim his territory is lovely indeed.

The sight of Turkey Vultures, and the sound of Eastern Phoebes (both return in March for my area). American Robins are year-round residents in most places, and Northern Cardinals start singing in February, so the "popular" choices don't indicate spring to me.

tmff's comment on Turkey Vultures reminded me that in southeastern Massachusetts, particularly on Cape Cod, the return of the Ospreys is a premiere sign of spring. This return comes around the time of the herring runs, which is a fishy sign of spring and probably the Osprey's favorite sign.

Claire

In my area robins were here in January then left about one month ago, the blue jays have now taken over. Blue jays are cantankerous, they are very vocal and they steal food from the bushy-tailed rats(aka squirrels). My favorite birds are raptors, I have a pair of hawks that fly over the house everyday looking for food.

It's definitely spring in my area when the osprey come back! I live near a river where they fish, and they build their nests on pretty much any high, horizontal surface. They always fly very high, circling in pairs, and have such high-pitched cries for birds with fairly wide wingspans. I've had them drop fish in the yard if a bald eagle is pursuing them trying to steal their catch.

As a kid in South Dakota during the '50s and '60s red- wing blackbirds announced spring. I still remember ditches filled with spring rains and the song of the blackbirds.

Now in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota returning Canada Geese honking overhead signal spring to me. That and an abrupt absence of juncos.

LOL, "the absence of juncos"! A few of mine are still here.

Saw the first bluebird yesterday. A few days before that I heard what I thought might be an Oriole but binoculars told me it was a Meadowlark. Sounded different to me.

Bluebirds nesting here in mid Missouri. Phoebes are here too. Anxiously waiting for our first humming bird. Feeder is up waiting for them.

Spring used to be waiting for our first Bluebird, but this winter they stayed all winter gobbling up mealworms by the thousand threwout the winter since we had 6. Then the robins showed up, I love getting up to the sound of them singing! Our first Orchard Oriole made his appearance yesterday. The Baltimore Oriole and Hummingbirds should be arriving any day!! I love my feathered friends!!! .

I don't grow the mealworms anymore but when I did I would call my family of bluebirds every day about 4:30 in the afternoon and they would fly down to their dish of worms. A thrilling time to be able to call them for their meal.

The red wings arrived last week. Spring is here !

How SWEET to be able to call wild birds to a meal! A sure-fire photo op there! Whatis123, that's what I want to hear - Spring has arrived for you!

Going on through the stages of Spring, I'm still waiting for the House Wrens to arrive. There's a Wren house outside my bathroom window that got knocked off it's base and I've yet to repair it. I need to get on that! And am still looking for Baltimore Orioles and RT Hummingbirds. I have oranges in place and the most popular hummer feeder ready and waiting.