From the time I was a pup growing up in the north and norther of Minnesota, I would hear all the fisherman's tales from the "old hats" of my time, including advice on signs of late and early Spring, Fall, and the depth of winters up here.
One I was reminded of a week or so ago was the forecast of red wing blackbirds. Unlike the barn swallows, orioles and robins, blackbirds set their migrations by some internal knowledge of coming conditions. They usually show up around here in the last days of March, before the ice-out but just in time for establishing whatever territories they choose. They come in monstrous flocks, the din so loud you can feel it in your teeth. But when those blackbirds flock in, Spring is right on their heels.
No shit, boys & girls, our first flock of red wing blackbirds flew in a little over a week ago. A smaller flock to be sure, only +/- 100 birds, but they brought the din with them. No, I didn't believe it either, figured they might be the damned starlings, which like to mimic other bird species. but today they were close enough to be positively identified with the binos.
My old man told me this gem of seasonal prediction back in the 60s, he probably first heard it at his pop's knee.
...here's to a great season, THP!
One I was reminded of a week or so ago was the forecast of red wing blackbirds. Unlike the barn swallows, orioles and robins, blackbirds set their migrations by some internal knowledge of coming conditions. They usually show up around here in the last days of March, before the ice-out but just in time for establishing whatever territories they choose. They come in monstrous flocks, the din so loud you can feel it in your teeth. But when those blackbirds flock in, Spring is right on their heels.
No shit, boys & girls, our first flock of red wing blackbirds flew in a little over a week ago. A smaller flock to be sure, only +/- 100 birds, but they brought the din with them. No, I didn't believe it either, figured they might be the damned starlings, which like to mimic other bird species. but today they were close enough to be positively identified with the binos.
My old man told me this gem of seasonal prediction back in the 60s, he probably first heard it at his pop's knee.
...here's to a great season, THP!
