Spring Shock

As a native Michigander transplanted to West Virginia (where now a 20-year resident) by way of Scotland and Alaska, I’ve just never quite gotten used to the shock of spring migration in the Mid-Atlantic region. I’m not talking about the unexpected joy of seeing old, familiar birds newly arrived from their winter quarters, but the shock of suddenly going from winter weather to summer weather seemingly overnight. Spring, and the cool, damp weather that I came to associate with it from years spent living in more northern latitudes, can be amazingly abrupt here. I’ve just never gotten used to chasing spring migrants in 70 and 80 degree temperatures and equally high humidity. It just doesn't feel right.