Found this lost baby goundhog sitting on a road.
Credit: Dawn Johnson
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EmailHow do you foretell the coming of spring? Every year, I enjoy hearing what readers from different regions have to say!
To me, birds are one of the best predictors. There is a weather proverb that states, "Bluebirds are a sign of spring; warm weather and gentle south breezes they bring," and this appears to be true in the northern tier of the United States. Bluebirds do not come north until all chance of winter has passed and they are assured an ample food supply.
In my state of New Hampshire, we also know spring is coming when the maple trees are starting to run. The first to notice seem to be the squirrels who start poking around the trees looking for oozing sap.
On a personal level, I know when spring is coming because I start feeling the bumps and holes on my own country driveway; the snow nicely covers and smooths out our road in winter!
Some of our readers also have practical advice. Winter will end shortly after…
- you are inside your warm home and you hear the sound of icicles crashing from the gutters and roofs to the ground below,
- whenever you feel motivated to peel off the 3M plastic you so meticulously taped and blow dried tight to your windows!
- when your mailbox stops getting knocked over by the plow,
- when the kids lose a mitten and you don't bother to replace it,
- and the first time you can drive with you car window down - best feeling ever!
One of our favorite pieces of advice that we’ve received for predicting the weather is as follows:
Go to the back door and look for the dog.
If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it’s probably raining
But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it’s probably raining hard.
If the dog’s fur looks like it’s been rubbed the wrong way, it’s probably windy.
If the dog has snow on its back, it’s probably snowing.
The instructions we were sent go on to say…
Of course, to be able to predict the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather.
Signed, sincerely, the cat
What signs of spring do you see? I'd love to hear! To comment, just type into the field below. (Note that you must be a registered user. Registration is free.)
Catherine, our New Media Editor, joined The Old Farmer's Almanac in 2008. She edits content on both this Web site, Almanac.com, and the companion site to The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids publication, Almanac4kids.com. She also manages social media content for Facebook and Twitter. When she's not online, she's with her husband and child enjoying the outdoors life in New Hampshire.
Comments
It is almost spring when I
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By MZ
It is almost spring when I see all the birds gathering leaves and heading for the trees to make their nests. Also, when I start to hear doves and hear crickets spring is almost here.
WELL TO ME THE FIRST SINES OF
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By ITSMELOL
WELL TO ME THE FIRST SINES OF SPRING 2 ME ARE WHEN WE FIND MY DAD PASSED OUT NEKKED OUTSIDE CUZ IT WASNT TOO COLD FOR HIM OUT THERE DRUNK LOL
Oddly, North Texas has had a
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By Solaiman
Oddly, North Texas has had a really cold wietnr this year: highs in the 50s, 40s, sometimes 30s (hey, for Texas, that's cold). But today is quite nice so far the high is supposed to be in the low 70s, and it's very sunny. Except it's also very windy. Almost as windy as Idaho (and that's windy).
Fuzzy "cabbages" of Lambs Ear
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By elen
Fuzzy "cabbages" of Lambs Ear popping up, smelling like a basket of Easter candy
My grandma use to always say,
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By Rain Melon
My grandma use to always say, "The first sighting of a Robin resolves the debate of the first day of spring."
I live in Exeter N.H. the
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By Sherry Mastromarino
I live in Exeter N.H. the signs of Spring I'm seeing are my tulips are coming up.I see the sap buckets getting full on the Maple trees.My neighbors crocuses are coming up. My sure sign is when all the Starlings come & wipe out all the bird food & suet then I know for sure it's here:-)
I live in Southeast Ohio so
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By spidermonkey
I live in Southeast Ohio so for me I always look for, Geese coming in, and they've been back since January and usually I don't notice them until April. Also the flowers and grass, if it starts getting Green before April it's a great sign spring is on it's way and it's very early. The buds on the trees when they are really big, I know they are gonna start to bloom on a warm front week :). And last thing, is just having a knowing feeling. Usually if I feel it and I can smell it, it's gonna be very early. I have said all winter, spring would be early and I was right :).
I live in north central
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By sophies mama
I live in north central Oklahoma. My first real sign of spring is the return of the buzzards from Texas. Usually around the middle of March. I saw a couple of buzzards on Thursday the 10th so they are a bit early. Can spring be far behind?
In Klamath Falls, OR, when I
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By duchess54
In Klamath Falls, OR, when I hear the birds outside just before the sun comes up. They are ready for the day and so am I.
I usually realize spring has
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By kjh911
I usually realize spring has arrived when one day, suddenly, I notice the sound of running water outside. The melt and runnoff has started and the birds, maple buckets and mud will surely be here soon.
My mother used to say that
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By rononPI
My mother used to say that you would never have any frost after you heard the first whippoorwill call. I am a grandfather now and I have never seen this prediction fail.
I live in Indianapolis,
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By Donna Winsted
I live in Indianapolis, Indiana and we have had Robbins all winter! I saw a number in December and also in February! The Sandhill Cranes first appeared overhead in February, also, which is really early for them. Spring seems to be coming in early this year! :D
It did come early but what
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By organicguy46240
It did come early but what happened to it???
I have also seen robins this
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By Jenifer W
I have also seen robins this winter too in my area (Erie, PA). I also have 2 or 3 blue jays that have been coming to my feeder all winter. I have been leaving them peanuts in the shell...which they love. I also have seen what looks like a wood pecker..didn't get a good look at it but it was walking up and down the tree like one & it had a red head. I also have what I think are grackels and the little brown wrens. So for me it's hard to tell when spring is coming...I keep coming to this site to check how many days til spring :)
It's only March 3, and this
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By Heather Morijah
It's only March 3, and this morning, a male house finch was singing his little feathered head off at the top of our Chinese elm tree. I was late for work, but had to look up and listen to him for a few minutes anyway. I told him it was still a little early for that kind of behavior, then went on my way.
In mid Missouri, I love to
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By nina_myers
In mid Missouri, I love to hear the little spring frogs start to chirp in the evening. I know it's spring at last.
Japnese Magnolia is in full
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By jerry.l.litton
Japnese Magnolia is in full bloom in February and leafing green in early March. Great Blue Heron are on nest in the swamp by late January/ early February and have nestlings in late February or early March. Alligators begin to move when air temps reach 55 to 60 degrees F and Cottom-mouths will not leave their limb till warter temps reach rising air temps of about 60 degrees F and these are found facing east soon as it warms enough.
When the Osprey return to the
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By Jan Eyres
When the Osprey return to the nests at the end of my pier along the Chesapeake Bay.
I live in Nebraska, so when I
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By jeanni
I live in Nebraska, so when I see and hear geese flying north. Also when I start seeing robins, I know spring is close.
I live in WI. My "sign of
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By Julie R
I live in WI. My "sign of spring" is the first Robin I see. But I know it's really spring when I can "smell the dirt". Then I know I can start digging in my garden. Can't wait for either one!
I love the post by "the cat"
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By chilimick
I love the post by "the cat" LOL !
We live in central Texas.
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By chilimick
We live in central Texas. Best sign of spring around here is seeing a scissortail (bird). Also, when the mesquite trees start to put on green. Seems like spring may be arriving early this year. However, I am not so sure... it has fooled us plenty of times. = )
I live in Colorado.
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By Thymey
I live in Colorado. Unfotunately, I'm also in the Projects. This doesn't leave me with much opportunity on reveling in the natural world but even here with one small birdfeeder I have noticed many new bird songs each morning. Last week the Grackles and Magpies returned and this morning my son spotted a Robin. Yeah! Spring!
In West Virginia when the
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By Linda WV
In West Virginia when the red-winged blackbird arrives it is a sign that spring is coming!
The first sign of spring is
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By Jim Downey
The first sign of spring is the return of the Killdeer. And when I see nightcrawlers on the road in the early morning, I know the ground is thawed out.
I love the first green shoots
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By Thelma Bozzi
I love the first green shoots of the crocus, Although I am confused by the robins this year, I moved 50 miles south of where I was and the robins are here already for the past week. I live in southern maryland.
I use many local
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By jimugone
I use many local spring-is-coming indicators but what I mainly love as a "pre-spring" reminder is the beautiful yellow winterflowers of my witch hazel (hamamelis mollis) as its yellow forsythia looking flowers contrast vividly against the snow. The seed cases of witch hazel actually explode in the fall ejecting seeds as far as 10 feet! I've always wanted to film such an event or at least spread a blanket nearby and lazily await their dispersal. Witchhazel is still used to produce a natural astringent and water finding divining rods. It certainly tells me where I stand reminding me that spring is just around the corner!
It is NEVER going to be
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By Ann Hicks
It is NEVER going to be spring. I've had it with the snow/wind/blizzards!
What's that old yarn--if the
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By Catherine Boeckmann
What's that old yarn--if the groundhog saw his shadow, spring's in 6 weeks; if he didn't, spring's on the 20th of March? Keep that in mind! Spring IS coming.
Spring to me is when the
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By Rebecca Spurlock
Spring to me is when the tiniest tree buds show across from us on the Kentucky Rivers flooded banks. I love when the first of my crocous peek up from winters sleep. I espeacially love when we have some snow. I have to admit my bones are not at all happy for that show though. I have to agree with another (Linda I think), about the peepers as well. Their song is music to my ears and makes me listen for the crickets longingly. The birds songs change to a happier tone. "My" wrens are FUSSIER when my cat Mei-Sha' is out. YES, YES,with out a DOUBT spring, SPRING indeed is near.
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