While enjoying a hike along the Towpath Trail this afternoon, we were treated to a nice array of birds seen and heard and other marvels of nature. My husband watched a trio of two Canada geese and a greylag goose defending territory at the beaver pond. The female Canada was sitting on eggs when two other geese flew in. The greylag and the pair worked as a team to protect their spot. Interesting behavior... Heard a Virginia Rail and swamp sparrows calling from the marshy area of the pond. About 20 rusty blackbirds were working through a wet area adjacent to the trail in the vicinity of Botzum Farm. The highlight of the day fell to the amphibians, though. Toads aplenty trilling from ponds and puddles next to the trail. I even heard two green frogs plunking away at the beaver pond- the first I've heard this year. Countless spring beauties and bloodroot flowers decorated the trailside as well. It's great to be out there! ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]