Humorous, but frighteningly possible in this time of climate CHANGE. Please click on the link to read about one writer’s prediction for 2013 in Minnesota.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/202417061.html
Sorry, the link is a dud and doesn’t provide the text of the humorous editorial. If you are still interested, click on the link, type Roger Barr into the search box at the top of the page, and then click on “Minnesota’s April Snow” under the Results.
Not enough snow to cancel school for the kids, but enough to get serious about snow removal. My neighbor is adding to the accumulation around our newly planted apple trees. I hope they like it.
This is just a reminder to us that winter is far from over in Minnesota.
Just 8-10 inches can really add to the height of the snow banks. It makes a good abs and upper leg workout though.
The bird feeder was covered in snow, but a few minutes after I uncovered it…
The indomitable chickadees were back in action, even though it was still snowing lightly.
Wow, it was chilly when I went out to check the spy cam (0 photos, no battery current registering). But there were some perky little Common Redpolls on the thistle feeders this morning, and I could actually feel the sun’s warmth through my many layers of clothing. The air is so clear and crisp, it’s like looking through just-cleaned windows (or glasses, for those of you who know what that’s like).
Common Redpolls are very social birds, traveling around in flocks to visit weedy fields and feeders. But they also are quite aggressive toward one another and keep each other in check, so as not to monopolize the food source. There were lots of threats, heads and bills extended toward another bird, but no altercations.
Feeding amicably on opposite sides of the feeder
Males sport a rosy breast as well as the signature red spot on the forehead.
We Minnesotans love our summers, because they are such a change of scene (also climate) from the winter. So here’s a reminder of what it was 7 months ago, and what it is now.
January 1, 2012
August 1, 2012
Back Yard Biology 