March brings the arrival of spring. Throughout the month, nature is busy preparing for the season. Signs of it are everywhere - the first buds on trees, the return of migratory birds and the call of spring peepers.
Here are some things to look and listen for during the month:
Eastern chipmunks emerge from their burrows and start looking for a mate. Chipmunks can be spotted at Huber Woods Park.
- Muskrats are also beginning to mate and will have young kits about 30 days later.
- Frogs and salamanders burrow up out of the mud.
- Wood frogs, pickerel frogs and chorus frogs' breeding season begins. Listen for the call of spring peepers and wood frogs at Turkey Swamp Park.
- During rainy nights, marbled salamanders, redback salamanders, bullfrogs, green frogs, pickerel frogs, spring peepers and wood frogs are active.
- Listen for the robins' "cheeriup cheerily" song.
- Mourning cloak butterflies can be spotted coming out of hibernation on warm days. Look for them in Thompson Park.
During this month:
- Bald eagle chicks begin to hatch. Our nesting pair of chicks at the Manasquan Reservoir have already hatched. Visit our Nature Now page for updates.
Grackles and other blackbirds return. Red-winged blackbirds can be spotted returning to wetlands.
- American goldfinches yellow feathers start coming in on their heads and throats.
- Piping plovers arrive on the beaches including Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park.
- Ospreys return to the state.
- Wading birds, such as the great and snowy egret and black-crowned night heron return to nesting sites around the bay. Try spotting them at Bayshore Waterfront Park.
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