This is Birdnode. Spring has reached the Arctic. Low-growing wildflowers carpet slopes of

Tundra, and arriving migratory birds begin to sing. A sparrow-sized lap-land long spur

perches atop a short stem, showing off his rich black-colored face, smartly outlined

in rust and white. The long spur flaps upward 100 feet, then sings his languid song as he

drifts slowly back to earth. Within low bushes, a tiny pale finch with pink breast and red

crown sings buzzzy jingling trills, a horny red pole. Then, from a rocky outcrop, a flashy

white songbird with black wings shoots straight up in the air, before cutting loose his spirited

phrases. This male snow-bunting repeats his song flight every few minutes in his quest to

attract a mate. Finally, we hear a song of insect-like trills mixed with whistles and buzzes.

It's a beautiful male-blue throat, his vivid azure throat and upper breast rimmed with rust.

The song presses on and on. Spring has come to the Arctic. The bird's voices make it known.

For Birdnode, I'm Michael Stein.