'Nature is going to come alive:' Schlitz Audubon Nature Center details signs of spring

BAYSIDE -- It might not feel like it, but spring is here, and nature is stirring.

"Every part of nature is going to come alive," said Don Quintenz, senior ecologist.

What was left of the harsh winter continued to slowly melt away on Sunday, March 31. With temperatures continuing to warm, workers at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center said they were seeing the signs of spring all over.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Don Quintenz

"Just that sun and warmth start to put vibrations in everything," said Quintenz.

Quintenz said birds were starting to sing -- some marking their territory.

"If you notice the robin in your yard singing, then watch where he sits," explained Quintenz.

Quintenz said spring also brings other, bigger birds in the sky, with raptors, a migrating species making their way to southeast Wisconsin.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Maddy Sislow

"When they get here, they're probably not going to appreciate the cold so much -- but they'll get to work on finding nesting territories," said Maddy Sislow, a raptor educator.

The signs weren't just in the sky -- with animals starting to come out, and flowers starting to bloom.

"There's a lot of animals that are stirring that haven't been stirring much," said Quintenz.

As of Sunday, it was still a little chilly for some animals, like salamanders.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

"We had some decent warming, so there were lots of things that were stirring early," said Quintenz. "But we had this little setback (Sunday)."

Heading into April, the signs of spring would continue to blossom each day.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center