6 birdsandblooms.com FEBRUARY I MARCH 2021
FROM THE EDITOR
A Lot to Love
KIRSTEN SCHRADER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
READY OR NOT?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says your soil is
ready for planting if it crumbles in your hand
when you attempt to form it into a ball. If
you can make a ball, it’s still too wet.
I will always gush over the first purple crocus or yellow daffodil bud I
spot in my yard after a long winter. That initial glimpse of a fresh bloom
is an annual reminder that we made it. We survived another cold season!
Crocuses and daffodils are classics, but in “Early Risers” on page 12, we
share 10 more flowers you can watch for this early in the season. Read
about lesser-known premier bloomers such as Dutchman’s
breeches, forsythia and flowering quince—you may just fall in
love and find a new spring favorite.
And, in a nod to Valentine’s Day and couples of all kinds,
discover surprising ways birds find mates in “Pairing Up” on
page 28. Some partake in elaborate displays of courtship to
enforce pair bonds. Others keep it simple with gestures like
bringing food to their partners. Find out which endearing
behaviors to look for as breeding season begins.
There’s even more to adore in this issue, including the
spectacular collection of bird photos taken by readers in “Spring
Awakening ” on page 23, the profile of mourning doves in “A Calming
Backyard Call” on page 10, and the handy guide to starting seeds
indoors in “Kick-Start Spring ” on page 36.
We hope you love this issue—our official hello to spring!
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Join Project FeederWatch, count the
birds in your yard and share the findings
with researchers at Cornell Lab of
Ornithology. Sign up at feederwatch.org.
Plan this year’s travels
with inspiration from
Great American Road
Trips: Scenic Drives.
Get a copy now for only
$10 at lovethecountry.
com/BFM1.
While home due to
COVID-19, Barbara
Kimball of Sterling,
Massachusetts,
started sketching
birds visiting her
yard. This bluebird
is stunning!
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