It's Official-Spring is Here
It’s time we took a walk together. Spring has come to the north country. How should we respond to spring?
Go out in it.
For this walk, you can stay at your place before your device. Read along. The walk already happened earlier today, when the geese were migrating. Replay this walk with me. Then use it as motivation to go out into spring on your own walk. Walk for the exercise. Walk with a purpose, make it your goal to watch and listen.
Come with me…on a digital walk.
We’ll begin in our garage. We are going to a wild place to the south of the city. My wife has the car, there is room for you and the camera gear in my truck. Do you have a chair? We will walk. Then we will sit. Sit and wait for spring things to happen in nature. Buckle up, this won’t be a speedy drive, we are going to enjoy the morning light and the flights of birds filling the sky.
I kept watching for a coyote on the edge of the tree line…but I knew it was not likely during the daylight hours.
No “v” here…but, their flight path was the same-north/northwest.
That’s right this morning the sky is filled with flying v’s. These v’s have wings and feathers. Notice which direction every airborne “v” is headed? Good answer…all are north bound. What are they you ask? Canada Geese. Now my question: “Where were these birds this morning? How fast do you think they are flying with a 25-mph tail wind?” Sorry, I had to ask that second question. And with that question comes another, “These flocks of geese are about 800 to 1000 feet above earth…how is the view for them?
This was the last flock of the morning flight…it was 9:45…AM
Last week we had winter…suddenly, in just a few days spring has exploded. Do you see any snow? Yes, there are a few small drifts left in the road ditches. Good observation, the hills on the farm fields are drying out. The frozen ground must be thawing rapidly. Time for our right turn onto the drive to the United States Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Production area parking lot. Why am I driving so slowly? The road is a bit muddy. I don’t want to wash the truck.
Look…the parking lot is empty. We’ll have the place all to ourselves. Well, almost…where we are going there are white tailed deer, coyotes, turkeys, mink, muskrat, skunks, cottontails, weasels, voles and shrews and a few more I can’t think of right now. Wait, why did you turn around? We won’t see a skunk…besides we would smell it first.
I have another question for you. Is spring brown and tan like fall brown and tan? You think it is? One difference is spring brown and tan turns green and soon. But this morning we see browns and tans. Do you like the white and gray of the wetland ice? Yes, there are still some drifts of snow piled in the cattails. Last night the temperature stayed above freezing the entire night. It was 45 this morning at 8:00 AM. The snow will not last for long…unless spring turns back to winter for a time.
I know, you are right, the geese in the air are clear signs that spring has begun. I’m glad you brought your portable chair. We’ll walk then sit. Glad you wore your mud boots. The ground is soft and squishy now, that’s a spring thing. Look right…a flock of red winged black birds. Those are he first I have seen. And you know what? Every bird is a male. With red wings, the males come first-every spring-they stake out territory and wait for the females to come. It will be at least a month to 6 weeks depending on conditions.
We should pick up the pace. Look down the grass covered road, yes, the little sticks are willow shoots. Yes, they are growing in the middle of the road. Do you see those trees in the distance? We’ll sit in them out of the wind. We have a quarter mile walk ahead of us.
I want to take some photos of the flying “v’s.” We’ll sit on edge of the woods for a better view of the sky. Let’s unfold our chairs. Yes, I know there are flocks of geese passing overhead. Need to get the camera ready…I am going as fast as I can. Look, the one string of geese is only a one arm v… Look toward the east…is that an eagle flying to the south? Yes, it is. There is a lot going on isn’t there?
This nuthatch did not want to be seen.
How about the south wind? Do you like the sound of it as it moves through the deciduous tree tops? I do. It’s comfortable here at the edge of the woods out of the wind. You say you do not see any flocks of geese? We saw just two north bound flocks…sure, it looks like the morning flight is over for the day. We should move a little. Do you see that opening just behind us? We’ll sit with our backs to the east facing west with the little meadow in front. Are you ready for a sit? Scan the woods in front, look for movement, look for things that seem out of place. Do you like the peace and quiet here?
I’ll stop talking.
While we sit, the peace and tranquility of this wild place seeps into our souls. We both relax. Our pulse rates and blood pressure slow and decrease. We are making memories of spring. We both watch with the sun on our backs the wind on our left, the ash trees swaying to the rhythm made by the southeast wind.
Spring is wonder filled…a red squirrel runs in front of us, just visible and very quiet for a red squirrel. We hear the nasal “yank, yank” of a distant nuthatch. When the cardinal calls to the south west, my hopes are raised, perhaps it will perch for a photo. A blue jay comes much closer-but no picture. I watch your face when the small flock of 4 chickadees fly our way. I can tell you think I should get some photos. Sorry, they never sit still. If you feel better, I am frustrated like you.
When you whisper, we should move, I am almost persuaded. But I remember the counsel I have given to many children, “When you feel like you should move-wait, stay longer.”
We are both glad we did. You tap me on the shoulder pointing in the southwest sky. I see the bird just off the tips of your fingers. It’s large and dark…too large for a hawk. One the walk back you suggest it was a golden eagle. I don’t believe it. Too many times golden eagles turn out to be juvenile bald eagles. This area is not in the golden eagle range. It was a juvenile bald eagle.
“Feathered Beautiful”
But we don’t move yet. When you tap me again, I am about to tell you to sit still when I look to the southwest above the trees to the tips of your fingers. There is no mistake. It is an adult bald eagle. Out of the corner of my eye I see a smile on your as I release the shutter on the camera for at least half a dozen quick photos. The bird just “hangs” on the strong southeast wind. I think we both held our breath.
Our national symbol…soaring with power and beauty.
Do you like the light on the bird’s head?
We had started on the return trip home when the final BIG bird surprise came. A little wetland along the road, the ice melting off quickly had a pair of trumpeter swans resting on the south edge. I could see you frowning as I tried to get the camera out of the back seat and out of the case. The diving duck we saw as we stopped had flown away by the time, I was ready…not the swans. We were able to compare the size of the trumpeter with a Canada goose. The swan is much bigger.
It was a delightful morning. We both had a very good walk. Spring surprises were everywhere. We could call this walk, “A Spring Morning with Big Birds.”
It’s your turn. Think of a nearby wild place and plan your walk there. Sit a while in that place. Remember to wait a little longer when you feel like moving.
Oh, I almost forgot, I am really glad you went with me-thank you!