Could it be time for the "S" word?

The last couple of mornings, the early morning air has been filled with the sounds of hopeful, chirping birds. I guess they too are on daylight savings time.

However, if I were them, I'd be registering a formal complaint. You see, here it is, on the calendar at least, the second day of April. Thing is, there's still a great deal of snow and ice on the ground in these parts. What's a migrant bird to do if there are no kind souls to put out seed or even table scraps? Will this confusion lead to greater turmoil when it comes to traditional spring-time flings? Will nests be filled with eggs sooner - or later? What will the wee tykes live on?

While it is officially recognized as spring in most parts of the civilized world there are still days here when one wonders. The lake is still frozen; there are still some major snow banks; there are very few brown/green patches of grass visible.

The returning migrant birds must be wondering what the heck is going on.

Of course, not all birds migrate south for the winter, here. Not even all Canada Geese - contrary to what you may believe. Over the bleak winter months, pockets of geese could often be seen flying aimlessly overhead in their familiar "v" pattern. Where did they hang out once they landed? Most bodies of water were long since frozen. It's not as if you would spy a goose perched deep inside a cedar like some over stuffed Chickadee...

Just a few short days ago, I looked out of my office window from the house toward the lake and spied a lone wolf, loping purposefully on the frozen lake, seemingly on some final winter mission. Perhaps he'd heard of a gaggle of Butterball geese lakeside somewhere?