March-soundways | Vernal Equinox | Window

First at the March / Competing with the Wind –, c. 1875 (Fr1383A)

According to the Snell meteorological record, March began and ended with snow. Only 6 fine (“bright,” “clear”) days—March 2, 8, 12, 21, 24, 25—are recorded, while storms—snow, hail, rain—troubled Amherst on March 13 (rain and hail), 20 (snow squalls), and 29 and 30 (Nor’easterner). High winds visited on the 9th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 29th, and 30th of the month. On the coldest day of March, the thermometer fell to -15º F, and freezing weather was reported on March 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 (-10º), 23, and 26. On the warmest day the temperature rose to 53º F. The cumulative rain and snow melt measured 2.578 inches, and 5 inches of new snow fell. Stratus clouds were most often observed in the sky, along with nimbus clouds, and winds blew most often from the NW + W. On Feb. 9, the Aurora Borealis was seen in the sky; and on Feb. 15, a halo appeared at Noon.

Bird species in the scatterplot for March now number over 60.

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Now the world is a cold and dripping garden: the time of winds and thaws.

While much of human life is still lived inside, pressed upon the window-panes, all the earth moves slowly towards the vernal equinox.

At month’s beginning, there are the birds that never left and those returning who now outnumber them. 

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First, the “freeing of the waters” brings a wave of sea-birds cleaving northward: Overhead is the sound of Canada Geese, Mallards, Black Ducks, Mergansers, Black-crowned Night Herons…

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Next, songbirds pierce the veil of spring: the first Bluebird is noted in the Snell’s 1864 weather record on March 6; the first Robin of the year on March 13. 

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Whirlwinds of Phoebes, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Rusty Blackbirds, Linnets, and Pine Siskins follow them…

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Then whirlwinds of Flickers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Tree Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows…

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All along the northern corridor the listener hears a new light in the trees. 

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At the end of March storms tear assunder the singing world. Downed, the birds are silent and rain hits all over the earth.