Birds burst into song as they gear up for spring (From York Press)

Birds burst into song as they gear up for spring

11:41am Thursday 16th February 2012 in Features By Stephen Lewis

THERE has been a definite quickening in the air over the last few days that suggests spring may be not far around the corner.

The snow and ice have gone, daffodils are beginning to thrust their green stems up from the ground, buds are appearing on branches – and garden birds are bursting into song.

Actually, they sing all year around, says Simon Wightman of the RSPB in York. “But at this time of year there will be an increase in birdsong as they begin to display and gear up for spring.”

Birdsong is partly about attracting mates, and partly about defending territories – which is why, as spring and the breeding season approach, songbirds sing more loudly.

It is not only the recent thaw that has signalled to birds that spring may be on the way; it is also the gradual lengthening of the days.

Whatever the reason, they have been making themselves very noticeable in the last few days – and not just through their song. Press readers and the newspaper’s own photographers have been out and about, both before and after the thaw, to capture the images on these pages.

Reader Mark Willis took the wonderful photo of a short-eared owl crouched in a snowy field near Pocklington; Press photographer David Harrison the inmate of a flock of Canada geese at a frozen Castle Howard.

David also took the photograph of greenfinches jostling for space on a garden feeder, while reader Wayne Bessant captured the image of a bird perched on a branch at Askham Bog, apparently about to burst into song.

Further afield, picture editor Martin Oates took a wonderful photograph of a young seagull perched on a chimney at Filey – looking for all the world as though it is enjoying the view and awaiting the coming of spring.

As to whether winter really is behind us… it is too early to say.

The Met Office is predicting much of the rest of this week will be mild in this part of Yorkshire, with the odd patch of rain or drizzle. It will begin to get colder at the weekend, and there is even a possibility of snow in some parts of the UK early next week as rain from the west hits colder air.

There is little at this stage to suggest a return to the Arctic temperatures of last week, however.

Wild Canada geese on snow-covered fields near Castle Howard. Picture: David Harrison.

At Askham bog nature reserve, Wayne Bessent captured this bird as it sat still for “longer than two seconds”.

Dave Perry took this picture of a bird enjoying a bit of buried treasure in his garden in Acomb, York.