A few weeks ago, Colorado Springs resident Daniela Waddell experienced a hummingbird sighting in the Northgate neighborhood.

She couldn’t believe it. “I was shocked. It seems way too soon.”

February is unusually early for the captivating birds, which normally return in mid-April to early May to the Pikes Peak region from wintering in warmer southern climates such as Mexico.

“I’m worried that it might not have enough food sources since there aren’t any flowers yet,” Waddell said.

Those are also on their way. Across the city, residents are noticing daffodil, hyacinth, crocus and tulip bulbs pushing skyward.

Social media is buzzing with observations of all kinds of harbingers of spring, from birds and bees to bugs and buds.

Mill Street resident and backyard gardener Faith Greenker said she spotted a butterfly a few weeks ago. Other members of the Colorado Springs Gardeners group said on Facebook they recently noticed butterflies at Fox Run Regional Park and The Broadmoor Seven Falls attraction.

Angel Barnes took note of three bees buzzing around her compost pile, and Barbara Kreps Osborn of Manitou Springs encountered a moth.

The prevailing thought is that these are ominous signs.

“It concerns me very much to see signs of spring this early,” Greenker said. “That we have butterflies in the air in February signals that it has not been cold enough to keep them dormant until there is sufficient fodder for them.

“It worries me long-term that we will see an increase in early springs followed by late freezes that disrupt the bloom cycle, which could have massive impacts on local ecosystems and food production.”

Butterflies and moths likely have been interrupted and reactivated from their “state of dispause,” which allows them to survive winter weather, said Lisa Mason, horticulture specialist and entomologist for Colorado State University Extension in Arapahoe County. Butterflies can take a seasonal rest in various stages of development, from pupa and chrysalis to eggs to adults.

Other insects, including lady beetles, boxelder bugs and western conifer seed bugs, overwinter as adults and wake up on warm days and fly around, she said.

Some, including grasshoppers, lay eggs that survive winter in the soil and hatch in warmer temperatures, according to Mason. Colorado’s dry, mild winter could portend another bad summer for grasshopper infestations, she added.

Non-native trees in public parks and lining streets are emerging from dormancy earlier than usual, said City Forester Matthew Puckett. Buds are swelling on elm, maple, crabapple and native cottonwoods, indicating they could flower over the next few weeks.

“It is unusual, we’re in a La Nina weather pattern, and seeing this activity in February is definitely earlier than normal for Colorado Springs,” he said.

While it’s true that trees and flowers that start to bloom soon can suffer if later subjected to deep frost or snowfall, “trees are incredibly resilient,” Puckett said.

Once more moisture arrives, affected trees begin to recover.

“Secondary buds can leaf out if first buds get damaged and have undeveloped leaves,” he said. “Our biggest risk is if we have a heavy wet snowstorm with extra weight on branches and freezing conditions, that could lead to some problems with broken branches and damaged foliage.”

This winter’s record high temperatures and absence of snow have “thrown everything into chaos for honeybees,” said Dolly Rickerman, founder and owner of Rocky Mountain Bee Supply. The store, which sells equipment and products related to beekeeping and offers training certified by the Colorado State Beekeepers Association, is marking its 10^th anniversary.

“People think warmer temperatures are a good thing, but for beekeepers, it’s a bad thing,” she said.

That’s because beekeepers leave about 120 pounds of honey in a hive of 30,000 honeybees to eat during cold temperatures, but if it’s warm, they’ll deplete their winter stores too soon and potentially starve, Rickerman said.

Also, wax moths can infiltrate weakened hives and damage the honeycombs beyond repair.

In the minds of honeybees, spring has arrived, Rickerman said. Bees flying around are looking for pollen and nectar, but since those food sources typically appear in April, the pickings are slim to none.

Rickerman recommends that beekeepers continue feeding their hives to prevent death. Anyone can help save honeybees by setting out a bowl of sugar water made with a 1:1 ratio, she said.

“These types of winters are dangerous and not desirable,” she said. “They can cause a lot of losses of colonies.”

A customer at Wild Birds Unlimited, which sells all things birds, reported seeing a colorful Western tanager in recent weeks, which “technically shouldn’t be here for two months,” said Trent Ryan, an associate.

“Everything is a little premature this year,” he said. “It always comes down to what kind of weather we’re having.”

A winter like this one in the Pikes Peak region sends nature into a whirl, Ryan said. “The consensus is birds are confused, especially mating rituals and nesting for the ones who stay year-round.”

Ryan said he’s never heard of hummingbirds reappearing so soon. Normally, he advises residents to put out hummingbird feeders on tax day, April 15, but said this year they may want to do it earlier. Hummingbirds hang out in western and central Colorado but don’t often venture East because of the lack of foliage.

Hummingbirds seek flowers and seeds for sustenance, as only one-fifth of their diet comes from bird feeders, he said. “Otherwise, their consumption is from nature, and less growth because of less natural moisture means more concern.”

Experts advise residents to water their trees, bulbs and other greenery in March and April this year and put a 2-inch layer of mulch around trees to hold in moisture and protect the roots.