In a much appreciated sign of the coming spring, red-winged blackbirds have returned. Randy Rynd was the first to report singing red-wings near her Oak Bluffs home on Feb. 22, and since then there have been more arrivals.

Last week, I sat at my desk lamenting the fact that I hadn’t had the chance to get much birding in the past week between work and poor weather.

I have taken down my bird feeders following a recommendation from Brice Boutot, the Edgartown health agent, due to dead birds on the Island testing positive for avian flu.

Spring gets closer as each day passes, and yet it seems strange to be writing about spring after we received four or five inches of snow. But signs of spring are becoming more frequent.

Given the recent dead turkeys found in Edgartown (some of them are being tested for the avian flu) it is prudent to be careful even though the flu has not yet been detected on the Vineyard.

Temperatures have repeatedly been below freezing this past week, which changes a bird’s behavior.

An almost rainbow-colored male painted bunting has been at a feeder in Falmouth this first week of January.

It did not take long for the 65th annual Martha’s Vineyard Christmas Bird Count to become history. Planning started long ago.

It’s cold outside. Bring on the vagrants!

Ken Magnuson spotted a tern-like bird in Edgartown Harbor near the lighthouse on Dec. 11.