Red-breasted migratory birds called red knots crowd the water's edge to feed on the eggs of horseshoe crabs in spring in Mispillion Harbor in Delaware.

Spring Marvels

Updated September 28, 2026

Things to see in spring at national wildlife refuges

As winter eases its grip, migratory birds return from southern wintering areas. National wildlife refuges provide critical habitat for ducks, geese, songbirds and shorebirds on their northward flights. Hungry and tired, migrating birds begin arriving in northern refuges as early as February and continue through May. As the air warms and the ground thaws, many other rites of spring take place in the air, on land and at sea.

Calving season

What’s better than seeing bison? Seeing baby bison. Look for spring calves at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado and other western refuges.

A large brown shaggy bison cow and her smaller, lighter-colored calf in spring at the National Bison Range in Montana. — A bison cow and calf in spring at the National Bison Range in Montana.

Spring breakup

Up north, in places like Alaska and Minnesota’s Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, the thaw creates ice fissures, sending snowmelt downstream.

A lake's blue-tinged ice layer starts to melt and separate in spring at Tamarac Refuge in Minnesota. — Spring ice breakup at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota,

Birds galore

Great flocks stop to feed at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge and elsewhere en route to northern breeding grounds.

Thousands of Sandhill Cranes together at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge — Thousands of sandhill cranes fill the air and fields at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.

Ocean drama

Gray whales migrate north along Oregon Coast Refuges in March, sometimes feeding close to shore and thrilling whale-watchers on the way.

The tail of a gray whale arcs out of the water with the forested coastline in the background. — A gray whale migrates north along the California coast on its way to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic.

Spring chorus

What they lack in size, they make up in volume. Hear the cheerful din of spring peepers and wood frogs in woodlands and vernal pools.

A spring peeper (a tiny frog that makes a chorus in spring) rests on a branch at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. — A spring peeper at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.

Go, boomers

Attwater prairie chickens vie for mates by “booming” through inflated air sacs and dancing in areas called leks.

A brown and white prairie chicken sports an inflated orange air sac on the side of its neck. — A prairie chicken sports an inflated orange air sac on the side of its neck.

Morel season

Edible wild mushrooms poke through the forest floor at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri and other Midwest sites.

A crinkled brown and white mushroom pokes through the forest floor. — A morel mushroom pokes through the forest floor at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois and Iowa.

Sea turtle nesting

Sea turtles start nesting in March at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Florida and other coastal sites. Hatchlings arrive two months later.

Tiny loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings head across the sand to sea. — Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings head to sea.

Woodcock dance

In early spring, male American woodcocks woo mates with a sky dance and loud peents. They display some signature ground moves too.

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