Happy Easter, Dawn Choristers! If it’s Easter, there have to be Easter bunnies, right? What better illustrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ than a bunny distributing colored eggs and candy to children? It’s ludicrous, but the connection has been with us for centuries, it seems.
A little bit of internet research brings us this:
Easter traditions and symbols have evolved over time, though some have been around for centuries. While to Christians, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, many Easter traditions are not found in the Bible. The most prominent secular symbol of the Christian holiday, the Easter bunny, was reportedly introduced to America by the German immigrants who brought over their stories of an egg-laying hare. The decoration of eggs is believed to date back to at least the 13th century, while the rite of the Easter parade has even older roots. Other traditions, such as the consumption of Easter candy, are among the modern additions to the celebration of this early springtime holiday.
Springtime, rebirth, new life . . . ah, the pleasures of spring. It’s my favorite season because we see so much greenery and new growth, birds building nests and having babies, the promise of delightful weather, and a yearning to get out in the fresh air and feel the abundance of life. Particularly when you’re coming out of a year-long pandemic!
Today’s Dawn Chorus is about the wonders of springtime and the birds we encounter in this lovely season. The bunny in the title photo is one I took several years ago when I traveled south of my home in Sacramento, California to visit the Cosumnes (Co- SUM- nes) National Wildlife Refuge near Galt, California. I was there at the crack of dawn hoping to experience the real dawn chorus of bird sounds and flight before embarking on some robust sightings and photography. And to my surprise, the very first bird I encountered wasn’t a bird, but this delightful little rabbit hopping around in the grass near the visitor center. I never thought about sharing this photo in Dawn Chorus before, but Easter now provides the perfect occasion!
The photos I’m sharing today have been taken on various dates in spring at the Cosumnes Refuge. I hope you will join me and share your own springtime birding photos including ones you’ve taken recently.
Killdeer is one of my favorite birds. Their eyes are so large proportionate to their heads, but they’re one of the more interesting species of plover. Their nests, if you can call them that, are nothing more than a few twigs and some pebbly rocks usually left out in the open where they’re subject to predation. Killdeer are famous for their bogus “broken wing” display intended to thwart predators that get too close to the nest. They feign injury to lure predators toward themselves and away from the eggs they are guarding,
Black-necked Stilts are such elegant birds. I love the stark black-and-white plumage and their spindly, pinkish-red legs. I love when March arrives because the Black-necked Stilts won’t be far behind.
Living in Sacramento in the center of California’s Central Valley, I’m landlocked, so you wouldn’t think I’d see many shorebirds. Sacramento is a big little city, the state’s capital, but once you're out of the city itself, you’re surrounded by farmland. Rice is a major crop and export, and so are seed corn, walnuts, citrus fruits, and many other crops. The Sacramento River and the American River, along with abundant wetlands and marshes, are great habitats for birds that love water. Egrets, herons, ducks, sandpipers, all find a home near Sacramento.
Not a bird, but another spring sight is butterflies and bees. As soon as the cold weather is gone and the spring blossoms start popping up all over. Those blooms attract all sorts of birds and insects and provide food for both. Spring has sprung!
These wintering ducks are still around. The northern Pintails and mergansers have pretty much moved on, but I’m still seeing these beautiful ducks. Not for much longer though. As spring gives way to summer and the marshlands and streams dry up, they’ll be gone.
Happy Easter! Spring has sprung and the floor is yours to share your birdy spring thoughts, photos, and stories!