April 3, 2011 - Frantic April
Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

In his poem, “The Waste Land,” T.S. Eliot wrote, “April is the cruellest month.” Far from being cruel, April is a frantic time possessed of almost daily changes. Everything seems to be popping this month. April’s traditional showers coax wildflowers from the soil to open their lovely blossoms. Frogs emerge from winter hidey-holes to begin calling and mating. Species of birds, not seen since last fall, arrive to fill woods and fields with frantic mating songs. In short order they will nest and incubate eggs. Insects appear, taking advantage of flowering plants. The first butterflies of the year spread their wings on warm breezes. After a winter of little change, April moves at a frenzied pace. Hurry! Hurry! There is not enough time to see and hear it all. Don’t let April slip by unnoticed.

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.