My Aunt Evie reminded me a few days ago that spring can not truly arrive until robins have snow on their feathers three times.
I have another way of determining the arrival of spring over the past few years.
When the loons arrive back on the local lakes it is time to say the season we have all waited for has indeed set up home here.
Today I noticed for the first time this season the larger heads of loons braving the cold water of Madison’s Lake Monona. While large sections of the lake along the shore are open water, the center of the lake is still ice and waiting for high winds to help break it up. It is now only days until the lake is ice-free.
As I admired the graceful movements of a loon it did what everyone who watches one of these birds waits for. It lowered its head into the water, and was gone. For many seconds ( 15 seconds in this case) I looked at the whole area where the loon went under. Then with an upward plop the dark feathers emerged after a fishing expedition. Hard to say if lunch was caught, but the visuals from shore were impressive to see.
There is nothing more stark than to hear the call (or cry) of a loon. For whatever reason it makes me think of the lonesome sound of a train whistle off in the night. The sound of a loon evokes a deeper reflection from within and slows me down to ponder what life is all about.
So pull yourself closer to a Madison lake in the coming days, look for a loon this spring, and breathe in all that life offers.
In other wildlife news from this blogger’s home….
While looking out the window yesterday morning I noticed what I first thought was a different cat nosing its way along the foundation of the neighbor’s house. I looked closer and then called for James to see the groundhog that was looking for some food.
This morning I awoke to the beginning of a nice sized hole in the middle of one of our recently mulched flower beds. Not good…….
Now I love my little creatures that live outdoors and feed them so they know we care…..but the flower beds are not to be touched.
I noticed today that along one part of our home’s foundation there was some attempts made at burrowing. Again, not good…..
There are plenty of places to live little guy, but not under the house. And defiantly not in the middle of the day lilies.
How about down by the lake and under one of the huge rocks…..and I will still throw the bread out for a midnight snack?
Deal?
Like this:
Like Loading...