By The Antics Of The Birds Poem by Francis Duggan

The birds already nesting and Spring not far away
And white backed magpie fluting long before dawn of day
And territorial spur winged plover above his breeding ground
Is calling in the darkness as he flies around and round.

In the last days of Winter there's less chill in the breeze
And the days will soon be warmer by four or five degrees
On deciduous trees new leaves are budding new green cloaks they'll soon wear
And on the third week of august breath of spring in the air.

The paddocks looking greener on the outskirts of the town
And blackbird along the fence line keeps flying up and down
He utters a shrill alarm call as the anxiety in him grow
Perhaps he checks his borders out or would I even know? .

For others of nature's workings have more knowledge than I
But by the antics of the birds I know that spring is nigh
the magpie he is singing hours before the sun lights up the sky
And spur winged plover calling o'er the paddock nearby.