Courtship Calls, Cold‑Weather Survivors & the First Hints of Spring
February typically arrives quietly in western Fairfax as we begin to shift toward spring. This year, however, we are still digging out of this snowcrete we got in late January. Given that, I am going to focus on some of the birds (and some foxes!) my Birdfy feeder has captured.
Frequent bird visitors include the adorable Juncos, Northern Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds, House Finches, an occasional Blue Jay, and the Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers at the suet feeders.
Even with bare trees and frosty mornings, this month we may start to see subtle seasonal changes. Here’s what to look for at home and on the trails in early February
Flora to Watch
- Skunk cabbage emerging in wet areas, they generate their own heat and can push through the snow! I’m going to try to get out to Bull Run soon and try to find some.
- Red maples may begin swelling with early buds.
Fauna to Watch
- Red foxes are in peak mating season, leading to more daytime sightings. I spotted one running across our neighbor’s backyard just the other day across our snowy yards and my Birdy feeder caught two screaming away the other night. One can sometimes catch them traveling together in pairs.
- Bird feeders provide lots of action to observe birds at home.
Even in the coldest weeks, western Fairfax is full of life preparing for spring. February rewards the patient observer with subtle but powerful signs of the season ahead. Take a moment to listen rather than look. February can be an auditory month, listen in for Cardinal chirps, Blue Jay screeches, woodpeckers, and foxes often reveal themselves long before you see them.
The following resources support the ecology, species behavior, and seasonal patterns described above:
- Virginia Department of Forestry, The Smell of Spring?
- Virginia Native Plant Society, Skunk Cabbage Secrets
- Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association, The Little Foxes
Wild West Fairfax 
Leave a comment