The First “Boing” of Spring

It’s a sound I’ve waited for since last summer.

For whatever reason, Bongo only “boings” during nesting and fledgling season, so his first call of the year is a sure sign that spring is close, and that nesting is at least starting to cross his mind.

It was just after Valentine’s Day when I thought I heard it for the first time, but there it was again on February 22. This time I even managed to get a video of the tail end of the performance.

Of course, being East Vancouver, a plane is flying over and a car drives by, but you can hear that special sound through it all …

We may be in for snow again today, but the crows are definitely thinking nesting thoughts. Selecting potential nest sites and emphasizing territorial boundaries seems to be step one. I’ve noticed crows idly fiddling about with small bits of wood and string on the ground, as if to remind themselves about the whole building process. I’m eagerly waiting to see the first crow flying off to a nest site, trailing a bigger twig. That usually starts in March, so any day now!

Bongo and Bella will have an assistant this breeding season as one of last year’s fledglings has stayed with them.

Brunhilda seems to be a chip off the old block as far as vocal ability goes, so she deserves a whole blog post to herself.

Coming soon!

For more on Bongo and Bella:

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