Reluctant Spring

The Robins have arrived, but where is Spring?                        © Diane B. Reed

As the east coast basks in unseasonable temperatures, we woke up to a blanket of snow Thursday. The snow was gone by afternoon. Despite a relatively mild winter, spring seems to be reluctant this year. The daffodils are just beginning to bloom, and though some of the flowering trees are making their best effort but we still seem to have one foot in late winter.

House finch (orange variant) © Diane B. Reed

Our feeders were busy with the usual visitors during yesterday's brief snow cover. Soon the summer visitors will return and our Juncos will head back up into the Blues. The Wigeons will head for their summer breeding grounds. The Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello Washington is underway this weekend, marking their northward migration. Keep your eyes on the skies, these large birds fly at high altitude all over the Columbia Basin. Learn more about Sandhills at Cornell Ornithology Lab.

 

The Sand-Hill Crane by Mary Austin

Sandhill Cranes, Cornell University photo

Whenever the days are cool and clear,
The sand-hill crane goes walking
Across the field by the flashing weir,
Slowly, solemnly stalking.
The little frogs in the tules hear,
And jump for their lives if he comes near;
The fishes scuttle away in fear
When the sand-hill crane goes walking.

The field folk know if he comes that way,
Slowly, solemnly stalking,
There is danger and death in the least delay,
When the sand-hill crane goes walking.
The chipmunks stop in the midst of play;
The gophers hide in their holes away;
And 'Hush, oh, hush!' the field-mice say,
When the sand-hill crane goes walking.