ROBINS: Our friend Andy Heffner called to tell us about a sighting of some robins. Well, not just some, but about two dozen!

Andy was heading to Fairmount Cemetery on Farmers Valley Road when he spotted some of the birds of spring, so he stopped to take a look.

“There were at least two dozen robins. They were feeding in the grass,” Andy said. “I started counting them, and I got to 16, but they wouldn’t keep still.

“I’ve never seen that many robins this early. I’m still flabbergasted. I don’t know if that’s a sign of an early spring or not.”

Describing where the cemetery is located, Andy said it is “right on top of the hill behind the old Worth Smith farm.”

Reminiscing, Andy said his father had worked at the old Bovaird and Seyfang company. Right after World War II, “the old Worth Smith used to come around with a wagon of Army surplus tools and stuff. He had any- and everything.”

Sort of like Worth Smith stores now, with his descendants.

————————

SIGNS: What are the signs of spring that you look for?

The first day of spring this year is March 19.

Daffodils and bird songs are signs that come quickly to mind, as do bees and peepers, and babies in nature. Butterflies are another sign.

The noisy drumming of woodpeckers heralds the changing season.

Ash, beech and oak buds will be bursting. The first leaves will be coming from alder, field maple and silver birch. The blossoms of blackthorn and crab apple, too.

Birds are building nests, and wake you at dawn.

It’s the simple things that really make it worthwhile.