Signs of Spring

With flowers blooming, trees pollinating, temperatures warming, and longer days, we know that spring is more or less here.  This week I've had a couple of other signs of spring, too.  On Friday I put up the hummingbird feeders and on Monday I had my first "customer".

A friend gave me a new bird house last week and I put it out almost immediately.  It's an unusual-looking thing, and I was wondering if it would have takers.  This morning I looked at it and saw a chickadee (Carolina) poking his or her head out the opening, and I've seen that kind of behavior once or twice more today so far.  No pictures of the bird there, but here's the feeder.

Today's other spring sign is the return of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.  I'm reasonably sure it's the same pair as last year, because when I spoke to them softly and gently approached, seed can in hand, to enrich the seed supply they were scarfing up under the feeders, they didn't flee.  They just backed off a little and gave me room,  mumbling their little mallard mumbles.  If it is the same pair, they will probably appear off and on for a couple of weeks, glaring at the back door if there isn't enough seed available, and then disappear for another year.

Springtime in Crownsville!