On comings and goings

About 90%+ of the snow is gone from most of the deciduous trees behind the house. Behind the bare branches blue sky brightens the day. We are about halfway through January and 65 days from Spring Equinox. Fortunately, February is the shortest month of the year. It’s too early in the year to even fantasize about bud burst, but we are moving in the right direction, at least as far as the seasons are concerned.

We had a first at the feeder the other day, as far as I can recall that is. A Northern (yellow-shafted) flicker flashed away as I approached the door to the deck for a better look. I didn’t get a clear enough look to tell if it was a male or female. We’ll watch for a return visit.

Aldo Leopold “shack,” late April

Photo by J. Harrington

I just glanced at the Leopold phenology calendar and it lists, in late January, Canada geese starting to return just a few days before the last of the sandhill cranes migrate south. That makes it very clear to me that phenology occurrences aren’t nearly as neatly structured as I’ve been envisioning. In all the  years I was an active waterfowler, I based my assessments on migrations to the south ending in late November or early December and return flights headed north occurring in March. Perhaps I’ve not been paying enough  attention to the details? But the Minnesota WeatherGuide Calendar doesn’t mention waterfowl returning until mid-March, so I can’t be too far off. Maybe the area around Baraboo, WI is just far enough south of our neighborhood to offer more open water in late January. If anyone has any solid ideas about the earlly arrival of geese around Leopold’s “shack,” please share in the comments.

To One Coming North

By Claude McKay

At first you'll joy to see the playful snow, 

  Like white moths trembling on the tropic air, 

Or waters of the hills that softly flow 

  Gracefully falling down a shining stair.

 

And when the fields and streets are covered white 

  And the wind-worried void is chilly, raw, 

Or underneath a spell of heat and light 

  The cheerless frozen spots begin to thaw,

 

Like me you'll long for home, where birds' glad song 

  Means flowering lanes and leas and spaces dry, 

And tender thoughts and feelings fine and strong, 

  Beneath a vivid silver-flecked blue sky.

 

But oh! more than the changeless southern isles, 

  When Spring has shed upon the earth her charm, 

You'll love the Northland wreathed in golden smiles 

  By the miraculous sun turned glad and warm.

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