The robins are back looking for the nest that was there in the apple tree last fall, the nest that survived the winter but not the rambunctious boys of spring.

The apple blossoms mean this will be a big year for apples if we can avoid a hard freeze now. And, I am hoping the robins build again this year.
The male has eyed me, cocking his head, on a number of occasions. I wonder if he recognizes me. I know him because of the scar on his breast — a dark line in the red-orange feathers — and I know he is the dad because of his jet-black headdress and notably brighter colors.
The flicker is there in the next door maple tree drilling away on the same dead branch that he has rattled on for the last several years.

The downy woodpecker that always arrives several weeks before the flicker and works over the same dead branch in the same maple tree has disappeared. Last year I thought the downy was gone for good but the male showed up again late in summer.

But it is the flicker that can really make some noise and you cannot miss those flashing wing patches.

Then there are the finches and the sparrows that you only see if you watch the hedge closely enough and for long enough. They are busy, busy in the far inner branches.

Lots of birds are back and we welcome their songs and dances, although the robin was a little annoying yesterday at 4 a.m.

This all leads to a plug for "Celebrate Urban Birds!" sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and which kicks off May 10—13. The event continues through the following months with activities such as gardening, bird watching, art, and science, all aimed at raising awareness about birds in cities. The events also aid and abet scientific studies about how birds use urban habitats.

Anybody may participate, either by themselves or through organizations staging events. Participants watch city birds for 10 minutes and check off 15 target species of birds. The information is then sent to scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology by mail or online.

"It is vital that we understand how birds are affected by available urban green spaces, including parks, rooftop gardens, and even potted plants on balconies," project leader Karen Purcell said in a news release. "Bringing people's attention to urban nature is essential for global conservation awareness and efforts to help birds."

Learn more and sign up at Join us! — Celebrate Urban Birds. Everyone who signs up for this free project can download the Celebration Kit in English and Spanish, or ask to receive one by mail. The kit includes data forms for reporting the species seen, a colorful urban birds poster, educational materials about birds and urban greening, and a packet of sunflower seeds to plant in pots and gardens.

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