Date: 2/19/26 4:59 am From: Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> Subject: [NFLbirds] February at SMNWR
A pair of Barred Owls called as I passed the Double Bridges at St. Marks
NWR, but after that, there was only silence. It was the dark of the moon
and the night was cold, clear, and still. At first light catbirds began
calling and the dawn revealed wraiths and streamers of ground fog floating
low over the surrounding marsh. The morning flight consisted of just two
Wood Ducks and a Wilson’s Snipe. A slow start to the monthly duck survey.
Although snow still covers Canada and most of the northeastern US, I had
expected the refuge’s ducks to begin staging northward. Duck numbers
usually show a big drop in mid-February, but so far most of the ducks are
staying. I recorded 1,235 ducks, mostly Green-winged Teal and fifteen other
species. This is over twice the number of ducks that I expected. Northern
Pintail and Hooded Merganser numbers have decreased sharply, but were
offset by a big jump in Blue-winged Teal. Most blue-wings winter south of
us and I have seen a bump in their February numbers in previous years as
they begin to migrate.
In February winter holds on while Spring begins to creep in slowly. Life at
the refuge is always in a state of flux as different species of plants and
animals play out their annual cycles, simultaneously interacting with each
other and with the forces of weather and climate. Each year follows the
same pattern, but at the same time is always different. This has been one
of the best shorebird winters in the last ten years. Over four thousand
wintering shorebirds gather on the interior ponds at high tide and their
numbers won’t begin to drop until the Dunlin start north in March. Avocets
have been sparse this winter, but Marbled Godwits are at record high
numbers.
Leafout is still a month away and most of the tree branches along the East
River are bare, but the tardily deciduous oaks; water, laurel and live, are
just now dropping their old leaves. Many of those leaves turn yellow and
brighten the woods before they cascade down in a cycle repeated each
February.
The ongoing drought and a stretch of unusually cold weather have resulted
in fewer insects. It is the hunger time for the refuge’s birds, but they
are resilient. Chickadees are feeding on the newly emerged elm buds. Hermit
Thrushes compete with robins, grackles, bears and blackbirds for the
remaining cabbage palm berries. Desperate Yellow-rumped Warblers are
hawking for no-see-ums.
The pace of life is about to accelerate as wintering birds leave, resident
birds nest, and summer birds arrive. Over the next few months ten million
migrant birds will transit the refuge. Come down to St. Marks, bring
popcorn, and watch the show.
