It's  another sign of spring.

Canada Geese are making their way back to Manitoba, and have already been spotted in the Steinbach area. In fact, Jacques Bourgeois with Oak Hammock Marsh says the first of the Canada Geese arrived on February 21st at 1:45pm. That is the earliest they have ever seen one arrive.

By comparisson, the previous record was in 2000, when the first arrived on February 28. The latest first arrival was April 6, 1996.

The Canada Geese that spend their summer in Manitoba will winter at one of two destinations; Rochester, Minnesota or in Missouri. Bourgeois says the ones that nest in the Interlake are the larger ones that will travel to Minnesota. The ones that nest in Churchill will fly down to Missouri. He notes the ones we are seeing today in southern Manitoba will either have come from Minnesota or it could be that they stayed here all winter.

"If there is some water available for them for the winter, they might stick around," he says. "Although they are not typically known for staying around here, because it gets kind of cold and food is hard to get."

Bourgeois says there are a couple of factors that trigger a bird's senses to fly back north. First, they see the hours of daylight and notice that days are getting longer, prompting them to realize that it is time to go back and nest again. The other factor is the warmer weather.

"When the first geese arrives usually you will find that spring is around the corner," he says.

According to Bourgeois, waterfowl are typically among the first birds to return. He says a lot of birds of prey have been spotted already too. Snowy Owls will spend their winter in southern Manitoba and then migrate north in spring.

Not all birds head south. Bourgeois says Woodpeckers are able to find food behind the bark of trees and will stay here. Then there is the Chickadee which grows extra brain cells in order to remember where all the food is stashed in winter.

Bourgeois says migration is very demanding and produces a high percentage of causalities. In fact, he says seventy percent of birds will not survive their first migration.

"That's a big number of birds that will actually die on the first year," he says. "But the ones that usually make it back, will have a higher chance of survival the following year. I guess they've learned how to adapt and to dodge all those obstacles and they will be better equipped for the next year."

And, Bourgeois says it is true, that a bird will return to its nest. He says birds have a very good memory and will come back to the site of their birth year after year.

Bourgeois says this time of year, birds are looking for leftover seed on farmers fields from last year. He notes when you get a late season storm, that food supply can suddenly be covered in snow and their water hole frozen.