One Thousand Days in Nature: April Showers Bring...Snow.

Feeding Frenzy in a Spring Snowstorm 18 April 2013

Fox Sparrow

April Showers

Dark-eyed Junco

Fox Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks, Killdeers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, American Kestrels, and Merlins... Make no mistake. Spring is certainly here. Great Blue Herons are tending nests at Interstate Park. Bears are ambling about. Spring for sure. Yup.

Fox Sparrow

Here in Northwest Wisconsin, lake ice is still frozen (even on the ponds) and we just accumulated another eight inches of snow. This time last year, we had bluebird skies, leaf buds breaking, and warming waters in all of the north bays. If climates are like people, the tension zone between boreal taiga and temperate deciduous forest is that interesting personality with a tendency for drama. Steady and same is just too boring, I suppose. We have a Mother Nature that needs some adventure.

Fox Sparrow

I suppose that is also why those of us that live here choose to stay. Every season is different. There are four seasons written into the history books, but I have never seen a single season repeat itself in my lifetime. Every year is remarkably different. Last year, maple syrup harvest was spent by the last weeks of March. Today, it's still running. Grass was green this time last year. Not sure what grass looks like this year. Last summer's drought left a lingering thirst in heat-stroked trees. This Spring, the thirst is quenched in the promise of snow melt. But will the snow ever melt? Sandhill Cranes, migration-starved and eager to lay eggs, must be asking the same question.

Common Redpoll

Today, in the driving snow, a large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos descended enthusiastically, frantically upon bird seed, joining the small band of Fox Sparrows that had hunkered down for the week. Purple Finches freely mingled with the House Finches, and a Common Redpoll, too far south for the season, looked right at home in "winter." The birds were lively and brought color and joy to the snow-swept landscape. Suddenly, all birds scattered and froze in the lilacs. Drifting along the wind, dramatic in the gray and white storm, a Cooper's Hawk cruised low over drifting snow, darting between spruces. When the coast was clear, all of the frenzy began anew. It was a good day along the tension zone.