Little Darlin' ... That Ice Is Slowly Melting.

[Posted in the Lowell Edition of Front Porch Forum (https://frontporchforum.com/) on April 10, 2019]

     Just returned from a week in Sanibel, Florida where I was involved in high-level negotiations with the Sun, imploring it to return to northern Vermont. I accosted it first thing each morning as it arose over Dinken's Bayou and tucked it in behind Blind Pass Beach each night. Throughout the day we chatted as I walked in surf and lounged in sand, but no near-term commitments were to be had, so I returned to Lowell to find snow-covered fields, icy rivers, and chilling winds. My apologies to all. Especially, to the lonely woodcock who "peents" each frigid evening along our hedgerow before launching through bone-chilling air on his sky dance. Also to the waterfowl, huddled en masse in sparse open waters on iced-over lakes. And, our hungry barred owl whose dinner remains well hidden under persistent snow. But, I hear no complaints from these wild creatures – unlike those I utter and hear from my fellow humans, even though we can easily retreat to our warming hearth. But don't let this long winter get you down or keep you hidden indoors! Springtime is emerging all around. Huge flocks of red polls are now accosting our feeders while juncos do their shuffle dance on the snowy ground below. Red-wingeds, grackles, crows, raising a ruckus, descend in great numbers. The spring-time calls of chickadees and song sparrows can be heard. Hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, goldeneyes, mallards, and many other water birds cruise the ponds, staging their northern migration – it is a show not to be missed. Don't know where to find them? Go to www.UVM.edu/~ebuford/vtbird.html, sign up for notifications and you will get all the info you need. Never birded or unsure of your skills? Bridget Butler, the Bird Diva (www.birddiva.com/), has you covered. Join her on an outing and she will get you started, even loaning a pair of binoculars if needed, so you don't miss a peep. Oh, I feel it in my bones. My southern sojourn was not in vain, and I did extract a solemn promise – maybe not this week or next, but the Sun is on its way!