April is the month of "new beginnings". Spring is here, and almost everywhere there are new beginnings to find if one cares to use his or her senses. The natural world that has been dormant so long begins to come alive. There is a refreshing newness about the rebirth.

Winter becomes a memory this month. The wildflowers are many and beautiful. Before the tree leaves are hardly recognizable, the woods, fields and wet areas begin to appear spotted with April flowers. The spring beauty is very much in evidence in wooded areas. The dandelions begin to appear. Small lavender butterflies can be seen flying around the white, pink and blue hepaticas. The stately yellow adder's tongue or trout lily will be growing in large numbers in moist areas. The white rue-anemone a delicate plant with small three-lobed leaves can be found in the woods. The large ghost white petals of bloodroot can also be found in among the trees in April. Growing in many different places will be the violets common to this part of Ohio. On the dry field areas the white fur-like pussy toes will begin to appear. Three petals and three leaves are sure signs that the flower is a trillium growing tall in the woods. In wet areas in late April one might find the tall dignified Jack-in-the-pulpit or elephant ears or skunk cabbage. These and others make this an exciting month to take a hand lens and explore wildflower beauties.

All month one might hear some of the spring night sounds. The frogs and toads will take over. Loudest and smallest is the inch long spring peeper. This tiny frog with the X on his back sings his "peep peep" at the edge of ponds or wet areas. After mating season the peeper seems to retire to the woods and is seldom ever seen or heard but there are thousands who sing in April. The "click click" of the cricket frog and the long trill of the American toad may be heard toward the end of the month. Listen, also, for the "plunk plunk" banjo-like call of the green frog. The short clacking grunt of the leopard frog will also heard.

The month usually includes much rain with temperature highs of between the 50's and 60's. Some highs of over 70 degrees will occur usually later in the month. The ground is still rather cool, however, and students should bring plenty of outdoor clothing. It will be colder at night. A heavy coat, sweaters, sweatshirts, hat, boots, and gloves are needed.

April usually sees the end of our bird visitors from the north. The birds from the north and northwest, who fly here to spend the winter, are usually all gone back by the end of the month. The evening grosbeaks are usually  gone by mid April and the juncos and tree sparrows seem to be both gone by April 30 each year. More than taking their places are the birds returning to us from the south. The Mohican Outdoor School banding and sighting records show April is when the following return from the south: purple martins, phoebes, barn swallows, chipping sparrows, purple finches, brown thrashers, and field sparrows among others.

The birds will stop coming to the feeders so often this month, and many will be active setting up territories and nest building. Cardinals, blue jays, goldfinches, cedar waxwings, nuthatches, robins, cowbirds, English sparrows, chickadees, starlings and mourning doves should be easily sighted this month. The woodpeckers seem to return to the deeper woods and are not as often sighted in April.

Rabbits, opossums and woodchucks will begin to appear more often. Deer and wild turkey might be sighted. The Greene Ville Players might appear and show how life was around 1800.

The new beginnings of April provide wonderful things to study. The creekbed is flowing with cool water and the waterfalls are roaring for all to hear. April is a lovely month to attend the outdoor school.