Make a Splash!

April Showers Part II                           19 April 2013

Dark-eyed Juncos in the blizzard

The late April snows continued, blowing nearly a foot of new snow into the Saint Croix River valley of Northwest Wisconsin.  Winds blew hard from the North, halting bird migrations and pushing all wildlife into shelter and into feeding frenzies.   While the snow was deep and drifting, the temperatures remained forgiving, dipping just below freezing.  

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrows

By this date on most years, I'd be listening to the chorus of Spring birds, hiking past blooming Hepatica and Blood Root to soak in the blending warm and chilled air currents drifting along a lakeshore. Green plants would be piercing through dead leaves as they pushed toward the sun.  By this date on most years, I'd be pitching waxworms to the bluegills hovering in the shallows and rejoicing in Spring with a Friday night fish fry that had started with an evening peace of Song Sparrows, robins and loons.  Sunset would dance in surface ripples, set to motion by a dancing fish.  

Common Redpoll, Spring lilac

Purple Finch, Spring Lilac buds and more snow

House Finch

The driving snow cakes the pines and low shrubs, bowing down the limbs and making secret hiding places for rabbits and resting birds.   While I watch the birds at my sunflower feeder, I find them to be very active.  In reviewing my first few images, I suddenly realize that I am making imagery of blowing snow and a wintery vision of kids kicking puddles, making an April splash.  The busy birds are making a secondary snow storm underfoot.  Splash!

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

American Robin

Dark-eyed Junco landing long...

Everybody has a different strategy.  The Fox Sparrow "kick scratches" to remove snow from seed.  The Blue Jay scatters the flock with a resounding alarm call.  A Purple Finch, out of his element and down on the ground, uses his wings like snowshoes to avoid falling in over his head.

Fox Sparrow "kick scratch" in action...

Purple Finch "snowshoes" in deep snow...

By 2 PM, I am at the hardware store buying more seed.   Bird numbers seem to be growing as the feeding frenzy continues.  As I drive to school to shut down the lab (snow day) and deal with the unexpected, I see flocks of Hermit Thrushes drifting in the wind and scattering to the low lying shrubs.  Home safe, I hunker down with the birds and watch the storm give way to a hidden warmth of Spring.

Dark-eyed Junco, female

Dark-eyed Junco, "Oregon Junco", a Rocky Mountain bird in Wisconsin...rare treat!

All images were made with a refurbished Canon 7D and my trusty Canon 300mm f4 L IS lens.  There was more light today than yesterday, so I was able to shoot faster and freeze the action.