Signs of Spring...

As "Calendar Spring" approaches, I wistfully hope for actual Spring in the Adirondacks too. The signs that I look for are returning birds, the American Robins and Canada Geese. The Crocus and Snowdrops in small colorful clumps. The days becoming longer and skies bluer, the same signs most people look for too. However, there are probably a few differences too. My favorite Spring bird is actually the Turkey Vulture. I truly believe that Spring has arrived in the "North Country" when I see this amazing bird soaring high overhead. Turkey Vultures are sometimes referred to as "Nature's Garbage Men". Their heads are bald to facilitate eating carrion without getting "yucky" stuff in their feathers. In the heat of Summer to keep from getting too hot, they will urinate on their legs and should you get too close they will vomit on you. But, they soar like a ballerina on therms.

And life continues...

While returning home yesterday, I chose another route to my home. On a less traveled road, I observed a "bird feeding station". Someone, using a snowmobile, had moved three road killed deer carcasses to the middle of a snow covered field. I pulled the car to the side of the road and took my camera from my purse. The telemacro feature on my camera allowed me to get several photos of birds feeding on the carcasses. On one carcass there were two immature Bald Eagles feeding and on another was a Common Raven.
I have been feeding the birds all winter and the price of seeds this year has been extremely costly. In addition to seeds, I also put out unsalted peanuts, and suet. If I had the means to move "roadkill" food to my meadow, I would do it too. The opportunity to feed and photograph Hawks, Eagles, Ravens and Crow for free is terrific.

Below the snows...

It is rainy and cold today, I am really yearning for Spring. Especially after a taste of it at the Philadelphia Flower Show. We actually saw a clump of blooming Snowdrops and most of the snow had disappeared completely in Pennsylvania and Southern New York State. Here in the Adirondacks the snow can last into the month of May. In years past I have shoveled snow off my gardens, to find Helleborus (Lenten Rose) and Daffodils with sickly white leaves and buds, trying to struggle through wet heavy mounds of old snow. Within the day the leaves start greening. I hesitate to remove the snow too quickly because it acts as a blanket, when we get cold fronts which can drop temperature to 10 to 20 below zero. Last year the temperatures in April dropped and held at 20 below for almost 2 weeks. Many of the early small passerines (perching birds), such as Eastern Blue Birds could not find food and adequate shelter and froze to death. I actually found a pair in one of our nesting boxes that didn't survive, and dispaired that we wouldn't enjoy the wonders of observing the nesting process that spring. However, another pair arrived a few week later and we watched them nest twice that year.

Signs of Spring!

My husband and I enjoyed a lovely walk today. The temps. were in the 40's and the sun was trying to join us. The West Canada Creek is flowing fast and carrying large chunks of ice away. The lichens on the trees were gray green and lush from yesterday's rain. The snow is melting, not such a pretty sight because it covered with dirt (actually sand) and is really dingy. But, it is melting.
Eight Common Merganser males and one female were swimming on the Reservoir. Over head were several flocks of Canada Geese. The tree buds appear a little plumper. And, on a trip into Rochester, New York we saw several Red Winged Black Birds.
As the snow begins to disappear, I shake granules of Repels-All onto my gardens. It contains all natural ingredients and is repulsive to most critters. It contains garlic, clove, fish oil, onion and wintergreen and several other natural ingredients and works extremely well in deterring skunk, raccoons, many insects and of course, deerly beloved.