Spring has sprung, so it’s time to spring into action and get out and explore Manitoba’s great outdoors. Revel in that sunshine and marvel at the new life blooming, chirping and even slithering right all around you.

Everyone loves getting out and about in that warm spring sun – even the tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes that can be found a hour’s drive north from Winnipeg at the Narcisse Snake Dens.  After a long winter, the snakes slither to the surface from their dens to begin their annual mating ritual. A three-kilometre self-guiding interpretive trail links the four active dens in the area. The observation platforms next to the dens are the best place to observe the snakes. But, make sure to watch your step along the way – you aren’t the only one looking to take advantage of the warm weather.  Warm, sunny spring days offer the best chance to see the biggest number of snakes. This year, the snake watchers are predicting these harmless creatures will make their debut the second week of May. To learn more about the Narcisse Snake Dens visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/spmon/narsnakes/snakes_status.html and to keep up-to-date on the snakes’ activity, visit http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/creature/garter/Narcisse_Snake_Dens.html.

Spring is one of the most exciting times of the year to visit Oak Hammock Marsh. The birds are coming back and fill the air with their songs, the frogs are croaking to the top of their lungs and the ground squirrels are playing joyfully in the grass after sleeping all winter.

There is a variety of activities at the marsh to take advantage of during the spring. The snowshoes have been put away and have been replaced by paddles and life jackets as you set out eager to explore the lively marsh by voyageur canoe.

Every Friday morning from 8 a.m. to 10 am, you are invited to the marsh to experience bird banding. You can see how songbirds are caught and carefully retrieved from the nets, banded and released back into the marsh by a resident professional naturalist.

Other exciting wildlife encounter experiences include surveys of dragonflies, fish, butterflies and frogs. Imagine yourself sitting quietly on a boardwalk while listening to hundreds of frogs calling out at the same time and trying to identify which frog makes which sound. The marsh’s frog surveys take place every day at 4:00 pm.

If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, what about chasing around dragonflies zigzagging acrobatically over the marsh? If you happen to eventually catch one in your net, an expert can help you identify it among the 60 species that can be found at the marsh. These surveys take place every Friday at 3:00 p.m. Butterfly surveys are held every Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and fish surveys every Wednesday also at 3:00 p.m.

For more information check visit Oak Hammock Marsh online at www.oak.hammockmarsh.ca. You can also find Oak Hammock Marsh on Facebook and Twitter.

One of the synonymous sounds of spring is birds chirping. Have you ever wondered which bird is singing that delightful little song? Sign up for a great birding tour in Manitoba to learn about the many species that make their home here or that make way through Manitoba during their spring migrations.

Churchill Nature Tours offers great spring birdwatching packages starting in May. Choose a seven or a 14-day package, led by an expert naturalist to learn about birds, in addition to learning about the local natural history and human heritage. Churchill Nature Tour’s birding packages cover all of Manitoba’s ecosystems, taking you from Winnipeg to the Interlake, to the Parkland region and up to Churchill. See a wide variety of species, from Sharp-tailed Grouse and Great Gray Owl to Stilt Sandpiper and Hudsonian Godwit. For more information on these packages, go to www.churchillnaturetours.com.

This May you can also explore the birding hotspot that is the Turtle Mountain Region of Manitoba. Two packages offered by Turtle Mountain Community Development Corporation feature an expert interpreter who will lead you on your weekend birdwatching journey. See a variety of birds as you visit Whitewater Lake, where many of Manitoba’s 300 bird species are regularly spotted. For more information on these packages, go to www.BirdingManitoba.com.