To most, March heralds the first flocks of robins dropping into their backyards. Or others note the red-winged blackbirds staking out their territories perched atop last year’s cattails. To me and many other ardent birders, March signals the influx of ducks into our region.

The Times News area is blessed with some nice aquatic habitats which attract many migrating ducks. As the ice coverings shrink, Beltzville and Mauch Chunk Lakes are good locations to scan the waters for over a dozen and a half species.

If you add the Lehigh River and Canal, as well as Lizard, Mahoning, Aquashicola and Pohopoco creeks, your chances of seeing a few more increases.

If you have to pick just one day to head out there, I’d suggest picking a mid-March day and particularly a day when south or southwest winds are predicted. This time of the year and those particular weather conditions usually signal good “traveling time” for the birds. This window is short because a few weeks later they have moved farther north to their breeding areas.

On the bigger lakes, look for hooded and red-breasted mergansers. They may be joined by the “comical” and “hyperactive” buffleheads, ring-necked ducks, horned grebes, and lesser and greater scaups. If you are fortunate, you could be blessed by seeing redheads, canvasback ducks, long-tailed ducks and common goldeneyes. The streams, rivers and wooded backwaters of lakes may host common mergansers, wood ducks and, of course, mallard ducks.

Following is a list of the waterfowl species I observed last March and early April at Beltzville Reservoir: greater scaup, lesser scaup, horned grebes, red-necked grebe, common goldeneyes, buffleheads, common mergansers, hooded mergansers, red-breasted mergansers, ring-necked ducks, long-tailed ducks, wood ducks, pied-billed grebes, redheads, canvasbacks, green-winged teal, common loons, mallard and black ducks.

Lottery players can be quoted: “You can only win if you play.” Barry Reed can be quoted: “You can only see these ducks if you get out there.” Enjoy.

Test your outdoor knowledge: In about a month, the roadsides along secondary roads may be adorned with yellow flowers that bloom only for about two weeks. These are _______. A. sweet peas, B. coltsfoot, C. dandelion, D. cinquefoil, E. smart weed.

Last week’s trivia answer: The porcupines found here in Pennsylvania have one young each year.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.