Even though we may get one or two more snowfalls there is now no doubt that spring has arrived at the Fish Pond.
I have been able to make two or three trips to the pond in the last week or so and there are new signs of life everywhere. You can hear songbirds again as they flitter around the edges of the pond and the intermittent tap, tap, tap of woodpeckers as they search the thawing trees for insects. The Squirrels are out in search of fresh food and I even noticed several insects skimming around the waters surface.
Cold crisp mornings like today still mean lots of ducks at the pond. Unfortunately it also means loud, crunchy and slippery snow which when combined with long shadows from the morning sun make it almost impossible to get into my photo blind without causing a mass departure of waterfowl. Something I try never to cause.
I was unhappy that they bolted before I could get into position to get any large group photos but I was happy to see my first Canadian goose of the season mixed in the departing flurry of feathers.
The Bald Eagles are around and very active. The immature I saw sitting in the tree with the mature one is still trying to shadow the elder birds every move. They arrived this morning and perched in a tree over the ponds inlet stream. The mature eagle screamed her displeasure at being followed but the younger bird was not deterred.
After the eagles departed, the young one only about ten feet behind the older, the few ducks that had stayed or returned to the pond ventured out in search of lunch and a nap.
One Merganser made his way to the mouth of the inlet stream to rest but suddenly decided to make a mad dash for cover when the eagles unexpectedly returned to the same perch they had occupied a half hour earlier.
When the young eagle attempted to land on the same branch as the mature one the older bird grabbed a beak full of its feathers. It not only caused the younger bird to find a seat elsewhere but apparently left a bad taste in the older birds beak.
Even though the woods may seem void of color and bland there are many exciting things going on in the springtime forest. The ground uncovered by the retreating snow quickly fills with the activity of animals that I’m sure are far more happy to see the arrival of spring than I will ever be.
Grab a coat and a pair of boots that you don’t mind getting muddy and go exploring. As always, every trip into the great outside world around you is an adventure just waiting to happen.
Have a great one.
Kevin
With sunrise temperatures still well below freezing and a seemingly endless blanket of white still covering almost every inch of ground it may not appear as though spring is on the way but it is.
The thermometer is now making its way above freezing on a more regular basis and small signs of last years life are beginning to peek out from under the snow. Grass has started to appear at the waters edge and under a few trees. Soon larger hills that are in the open and exposed to the wind will begin to appear almost as if they are surfacing from below the silent winter waves.
The waterfowl certainly seem to know what time of year it is. The ducks that have been at the pond since my last post seem to be more active each time I manage a visit. The Goldeneye drakes are beginning to change into their summer plumage and are all busy trying to lay claim to the pond. There always seems to be at least one pair chasing each other back and forth across the pond.
The Mallard drakes are sticking very close to their hens go to great lengths to keep them away from any unattached male that wanders to close.
During these past two visits I have also seen at least three different eagles. One that looks like last years eaglet, one that I would guess is three or four years old, and my old banded friend.
This morning the mature bird and the youngest one were both perched in the same tree. Perhaps its one of her young from last year but I’ll bet that a month or so from now you won’t see that happening. Once the mature birds start to prepare for this year’s young they won’t tolerate any older offspring in their territory.
Because of the mini thaws the deer have been able to safely wander farther and farther out of the dense cedars in search of food. They are still moving in their large winter groups and for the most part look as though they have done ok through what some say has been a harder than normal winter.
This small deer might have died of starvation while trying to compete with larger deer for the meager amounts of winter food. It might have been that the cold combined with an injury or illness were more than it could take. Regardless of the cause scenes like these serve as a reminder of how hard and unforgiving life in the wild really is and how much animals depend on their natural habitat and a healthy ecosystem.
As always, get outside. It’s the perfect cure for cabin fever!
Old man winter certainly isn’t ready to depart northern Michigan yet but there are signs his grip might be starting to loosen a little.
Warmer temperatures and the temptation of even meager amounts of browsing are just enough to draw the local deer population out of the dense cedar swamps that surround many of the north woods lakes, rivers and ponds. A few days of above freezing temperatures is all it takes to soften up frozen twigs and provide hope to everything living that spring is indeed on the way.
After being blessed with hundreds of ducks to photograph during my last visit having only a half a dozen or so to watch this time seemed almost boring but it was still an excellent opportunity to learn something about them and how they live together.
Apart from one pair each of Mallards and Buffleheads that stopped briefly a small group of Goldeneyes were the only thing swimming on the pond. It started as a trio on one end of the pond and a single on the other. The single bird decided he would make his way toward the other three in hopes of introducing himself but the large male in the group apparently wasn’t in the mood for company.
He lowered his head and swam towards the newcomer in a manner that made it clear to even me that he wasn’t feeling sociable. The loner kept a respectable distance but it wasn’t far enough away to make the large male happy.
He started diving like he was feeding but he was actually trying a tactic I hadn’t seen before to rid himself of the intruder. He would disappear below the surface and a few seconds later ram the unwelcome duck from below sending it half running, half flying off to a distant corner of the pond.
While I was taking a break from trudging through the knee deep snow on my way home I began to wonder how many people these days actually take the time to enjoy a snowfall in the woods. How many have been able to take a minute to enjoy the silent fall of giant snowflakes that gently settle on motionless branches, cedar boughs and white pine needles. How many people cross an animal track in the snow and take a second to wonder where it goes.
If you live in the north and haven’t taken the time for a winter walk in the woods now is a great time of year to do so. It may surprise you and do you a world of good.
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