Here is your early sign of spring fact of the day. I know that I mentioned the American woodcock during the week on animal courtship rituals, but they are great birds and deserve a second mention. This year I have recently heard the males making their "peent" calls in my backyard prior to flying up in the air to do their spiralling aerial courtship displays. After wintering in the south, these plump shorebirds come back up north in late winter/early spring. The video shows a mother woodcock doing a funky dance that is thought to cause worms to move around in the soil making it easier to detect them. I just ADORE the chicks trying to copy mom's moves. They could have picked funkier music, but it's still a cute video. #earlysignsofspring #woodcocks https://youtu.be/ifLROQxQo_U

Posted by Mel Grosvenor at 2021-03-02 15:49:47 UTC