Signs of Spring Arrive Early in the Rockies
by Ward Cameron
Spring has arrived very early this year. The leaves have begun to appear at the end of April, something rarely seen in the Rockies. Springtime in the mountains has always been a period of unpredictable weather. For that matter, the entire year brings unpredictable weather. However, it's also a time of rebirth and the signs are all around us. As you walk across some of the open flats, particularly on south facing slopes, the purple headed crocuses look up at you. They've been in bloom for some time now and are a sure sign that spring is here.
Another early wildflower is the coltsfoot. Not as spectacular as the crocus, it tends to grow in low, wet areas and appears as early (sometimes earlier) as the crocus. It’s a small plant with broad, deeply notched leaves and a clump of small flowers. Soon the leaves on the various trees in the area will finish budding and the main summer explosion of wildflowers will begin. The animals in the valley are also showing the signs of spring. I saw a mule deer buck at the Banff hostel last week and his antlers had already begun to grow. At this point, they were little more than velvety stumps, but the sign was obvious.
Canada Geese are on the lookout for nesting sites as springtime progresses.
It's also the season for animal babies. The elk will be the most obvious with their calves along the highway — one more reason to slow down when you drive the highway at night. If you're very lucky, you may get the opportunity to view a mule deer fawn, but they are kept well hidden for protection. The bears will also be awake and soon their cubs will be wandering with their mother looking for that endless requirement of food.
High overhead, the annual migration of golden eagles has been quietly taking place. Prior to 1992, it was believed that only a few eagles passed over our towering peaks. The main migration was believed to occur further east. However, that summer ornithologist Peter Sherrington saw a single eagle passing over Mount Lorette in the Kananaskis Valley. By the end of the day the number had topped 100.
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A Rocky Mountain Bluebird is a brilliantly coloured harbinger of springtime in the Canadian Rockies.
By the end of the 2001 season, researchers had counted 69,677 migratory golden eagles out of a total of 84,280 migratory birds of prey. Seasonally, approximately 3,400 to 4,700 birds pass overhead.
The local bird population is pairing up and beginning to nest. Soon the swallows will be busily building nests beneath the rafters while the rest of the bird population is collecting materials for their nests — that is, all but the brown-headed cowbirds. They look like a blackbird with a brown head and rather than build a nest, the female just lays her eggs in other birds’ nests. The nest owner then becomes an unwitting foster parent.
As the lakes and streams begin to free themselves from their winter covering of ice, the waterfowl begin to lay claim to certain patches in order to set up house. Geese, which mate for life, have already been seen throughout the area in isolated pairs. Soon their white eggs will be deposited on a soft bed of grasses, usually on a small island.
As we look around us over the next few weeks, the changes that spring brings to this area will be appearing almost constantly. The signs are all around us and if we look carefully we can see a new genera¬tion beginning.
Ward Cameron is a Canmore-based naturalist, author, photographer and web site designer. He is the author of three books detailing the riches of western Canada, including his most recent release Canmore and Kananaskis - Best Hikes Best Activities. This overall guide to Canmore and Kananaskis Country covers the history, nature and attractions of this fabulous area.
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