Waiting for the Meadowlark

Apr 21, 2015 | Wildlife

Story and Photos by Elaine Kennedy

The western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is one of the most iconic birds of the prairies. Easily identified by their distinctive yellow chest, their abundance, and by their sweet, melodic song that echoes throughout the plains from sunrise to sundown.

For me, the meadowlark has come to symbolize the arrival of spring in the prairies. They seem to appear out of thin air when the snow starts to melt and the days begin lengthening. 

When I arrived in Montana at the beginning of March, I was already looking forward to hearing their buoyant tune. 

Listen to the meadowlark’s song here:
March 3: The first day of fieldwork introduces us to a typical day of harsh prairie winter: -20oF, cold biting wind, and a full blanket of snow on the ground. The only birds to be found are horned larks, rough-legged hawks, and the hardy grouse that persevere on the plains year-round. Warm days and meadowlarks seem a long way off.

March 3: The first day of fieldwork introduces us to a typical day of harsh prairie winter: -20oF, cold biting wind, and a full blanket of snow on the ground. The only birds to be found are horned larks, rough-legged hawks, and the hardy grouse that persevere on the plains year-round. Warm days and meadowlarks seem a long way off.

March 10: One week water, temperatures hit the 60s and we hike in t-shirts for the first time, excited about the unseasonably warm weather. It’s starting to feel like spring, although noticeably lacking in birdsong.

March 11: The first three-flowered avens pokes its vibrant green leaves up through the thawing earth, welcoming the warm temperatures. The meadowlarks are really missing out on some prime springtime wildflower excitement here.

March 12: Migratory waterfowl start to settle in the ponds and marshes on APR. We observed northern pintails, blue teals, goldeneyes and tundra swans. Surely the meadowlarks can’t be too far behind?

March 13: March 13 – The first butterfly floats through the gradually awakening landscape, searching for some flowers and nectar. They’re a pretty good sign of spring, but still can’t compare to the meadowlarks.

March 16 (morning): The first scarlet mallows and cinquefoils show their miniscule leaves on the plains, fighting their way through last year’s litter. Many plants are sprouting up now for the growing season, but it feels incomplete without the meadowlarks’ lively tunes.

March 16 (afternoon): Finally!! What a welcome sound! The first meadowlark breaks the silence of winter with the song of springtime. Perched on a fencepost across the road, its long-awaited voice rings throughout the plains and warms my heart. At last, this iconic bird of the prairies has come back to its home and brought with it the reassurance that springtime is indeed returning. 

April 8: The meadowlarks are absolutely everywhere by now, and not a day goes by that I don’t pause and listen to their cheerful melodies. In both an ecological and cultural sense, they’re a ubiquitous and integral part of the prairie community. 

I also realized this March while waiting for their return, that the meadowlark doesn’t only represent the arrival of springtime, but also the hope and optimism associated with the changing of the seasons. Even during a token cold snap in April when you wake up to a world of snow, you’re still in high spirits because as long as there are meadowlarks singing, warmth and sunlight will assuredly return. 

The herald of springtime and a symbol of hope, meadowlarks will always be one of the best-known and best-loved birds of the prairie. And every winter I will continue the patiently wait for the day when that familiar, cheerful song rings once again through the landscape, and then I’ll know that spring is just around the corner, the meadowlarks are here to welcome it, and I am here to welcome them.

Elaine Kennedy grew up in Southern Ontario and graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Environmental Science. For two summers, she has performed environmental monitoring on the Canadian prairies for the Canadian Wildlife Service and Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. You can see more of Elaine’s work at elainekennedyphotography.com.

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