It's easy to think the birds are simply rejoicing in the return of warmer weather, overwhelmed by sunshine. The truth, of course, is that the songs mean much more than that to the birds. Many are mating calls, designed precisely to bring males and females together. And many others are territorial proclamations meant to keep others of the same species from competing for not only the nesting sites but also for the available food. The songs sound carefree to us but they involve serious matters.
Bluebirds are only one of many species pairing off.
Ducks and geese began breaking up winter flocks a few weeks ago. Now, we rarely see a mallard hen without her green-headed mate. They paddle along the edges of ponds, carefully searching for some spot above the water line that might be sufficiently shielded from marauding raccoons and foxes. Wood ducks, just back from winter quarters down South, are doing the same with hollow trees and the nesting boxes installed on many of our ponds. The multicolored male accompanies the drab female, tagging along behind like a husband trailing his wife through the housewares section of a department store.