19 March 2026
Happy Spring Equinox on Friday!
So what does the Spring Equinox symbolise? I asked AI.
“The spring equinox (or vernal equinox) symbolises a profound turning point towards light, new beginnings, and balance, marking the official end of winter’s dormancy and the start of growth. It represents a moment of global equilibrium (equal day and night), fostering themes of fertility, renewal, and the emergence of life.
Core Symbolism of the Spring Equinox:
- New Beginnings & Rebirth: The world emerging from winter’s slumber symbolizes a chance to start fresh, often characterized by planting, growing, and shedding the old.
- Balance & Equilibrium: Occurring when the sun crosses the equator, it symbolizes the perfect, albeit fleeting, balance between light and dark, day and night.
- Light over Darkness: As days begin to grow longer, the equinox is a testament to the return of warmth and the triumph of light over the cold and darkness of winter.
- Fertility & Growth: Traditionally linked to the goddess Ostara, the season is heavily associated with fertility, growth, and abundance.
- Transformation & Renewal: Similar to a seed sprouting, it represents a period of blooming and personal growth.
Community-Based Research Centre +7
Common Symbols and Rituals:
- Eggs: Representing fertility, new life, and the potential of the coming season.
- Hares/Rabbits: Long-standing symbols of fertility and the quickening life of spring.
- Flowers/Seeds: Snowdrops, crocuses, and the planting of seeds represent new growth and the awakening of the earth.
- Bonfires/Candles: Lighting fires symbolizes the return of the sun’s warmth and light.
- Spring Cleaning: Clearing out the physical and metaphorical stagnation of winter to prepare for new energy.
Slow North +5
Cultural and Historical Contexts:
- Holi (Hinduism): A vibrant festival celebrating the arrival of spring, joy, and the victory of good over evil.
- Easter (Christianity): Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, aligning with the broader themes of rebirth.
- Ostara (Pagan/Germanic): The pagan festival honoring the goddess of spring and dawn, Eostre.
- Mesoamerican Traditions: Often recognized with the descent of the snake god Kukulkan at Chichen Itza, signifying the agricultural season’s start.
Slow North +3
The spring equinox serves as a reminder to align with the rhythms of nature, celebrating the return of warmth and actively cultivating growth in both the environment and our personal lives. “
My family and I – two or four legged – wish each of you a wonderful beginning of spring, a sense of light and life, and hope.
Before I begin, it seems that Audacity and Jak have another nest. Gracie Shepherd caught up with them and discovered that Audacity has laid egg 7 of this breeding season. She is not giving up on having a little one. Tugs at my heart strings. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/SZ_xEjmVT3c?
It is currently very cloudy, with temperatures of +3 C in Winnipeg. There is a 45kph wind kicking up the snow and making it feel bitterly cold on our faces. We have now been out for two walks with Toby – shorter walks more frequently seem to work better for ‘us seniors’.
Thinking ahead to when the snow is gone and some changes to the garden to suit a dog that loves to run, I am moving the lower deck and hoping to create an agility area for Toby. We tested out the arrival of one tube. The ones we had for ‘The Girls’ are simply too small. Here is a video of the arrival with Hugo Yugo and Toby. My talents do not lie in camera work! That is for certain. Have patience. There are a couple of cute moments.
Big Red spent enough time on the nest on Thursday that everyone thought we might have an egg! Soon, soon!!!!!! Our Queen of the Red Tail Hawks is 23 years old. I am hoping for two healthy chicks that thrive, fledge, and survive. As much as I admire what the Cornell Bird Lab does, they really need to keep on making the windows bird-strike-proof. Sadly, the fledgling lost last year was to West Nile Virus, not window strike, but there is still work to be done on the latter.
Need another Red-tail Hawk nest to watch? Syracuse University’s nest is on streaming cam: https://www.youtube.com/live/X_lEUCn8QcI?
JBS24 is really getting ready to fledge. After the loss of JBS 25 to an unknown, the parents have been remarkable in their care of their surviving baby.
No one needs to worry. Gabby has eyes in the back of her head when it comes to her babies who are now doing some daring branching. It won’t be long as they are self-feeding, branching, and working wings. Beau and Gabby you did well.
E26 has found the pond at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest of his dad, M15 and late Mum, F23.
There appears to be a new female on the nest at Dewey Beach. Heidi will confirm later.
SF Bay Ospreys and the Golden Gate Alliance have created a video montage of Richmond’s amazing nest-building talents at the Whirley Crane this season. https://youtu.be/H6c92MNqISw?
At Gwash B11/10 has returned. He is the partner to Blue 25 (10).
Menhaden in the Chesapeake are essential to the entire eco-system and the population has been destroyed by industrial fishing. Different fish, different area but do think about this the next time you reach for Krill Oil!
Duke Farms Only Eaglet is doing very well. Gosh, it is nice not to have to share food with a sibling!
There is at least one osprey at the Dahlgren osprey platform.
I have been asked for the link to the Dale Hollow streaming cam. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/live/W7SeA3uDWSM?
There is real saddness as seabirds are washing up dead.
“Thousands of seabirds dying on western Europe’s coasts
Puffins, guillemots and razorbills are being washed up dead or dying on Europe’s Atlantic coast in what scientists call a ‘wreck’
Thousands of seabirds – mostly puffins, but also many guillemots and razorbills – are being washed up dead or dying on the Atlantic coasts of western Europe, in what scientists call a “wreck”.
This year’s events, the consequence of a series of severe storms during the late autumn and winter, are the worst since 2014, when as many as 54,000 birds were found stranded. Of these, well over half – between 30,000 and 34,000 – were puffins.
This may only be the tip of a very large iceberg, as puffins usually spend the winter far out in the north Atlantic, meaning many more birds will have died at sea and their corpses will never reach the shore.
The RSPB has warned that this recent series of weather-related disasters comes on top of a very tough few years for puffins. Avian flu and a decline of their favourite food – sand eels – have reduced breeding success at their colonies on offshore islands and around our coasts. They, and Britain’s other seabirds, such as gannets, fulmars and kittiwakes, also face problems from a rise in marine pollution.”
Beautiful Blue NCO at the Loch of the Lowes nest:
Thank you so much for being with us. I am sending this out late Thursday instead of Friday as it is not busy for me right now. I hope you have a great weekend. Will send short posts if any ospreys land on the UK nests! Take care.
Thank you so much to those who create videos for our enjoyment and education, to those who post information on Facebook, to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of our favourite birds, and to news sources that continue to provide information on our environment and our feathered friends.
