Where is spring?
Posted 4/5/02

According to the calendar, it was the first day of spring, however, it looked and felt like anything but. The piercing cold wind, piles and piles of dirty snow and ice, and the bare, lifeless trees made it look and feel more like the 20th of January than the 20th of March. The older I get, the less I like winter.

Spring can not come soon enough for me this year. I long for plush green grass, soft (unfrozen) flowing water, warm sun, the return of the bluebirds, the sound of redwing blackbirds in the fields and marshes and the sweet smells of spring. I just know that the soothing melodies of the house wrens will do wonders to lift my spirits.

Yes, a good, healthy dose of spring is just what the doctor ordered to treat my affliction. Trouble is, once the snow melts, I am sure to discover each and every spot in the yard that my two dogs have "visited" over the winter.

Oh well, we have to take the good with the bad. And it will give my wife something to do...

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View from the

kitchen window

My daughter had never seen one before so this was quite a treat for her. Since our bird feeder is a mere 20 feet from our kitchen window, Heather was able to observe the Pileated Woodpecker up close and personal.

Somewhat prehistoric looking, the Pileated Woodpecker sports a long neck, red crest on the head, and a black beak. A large bird (mature size is about 16 inches long), the Pileated has a distinctive flight pattern. It flaps its wings strongly once or twice, then a quick pause and repeat. The pause causes the bird to drop until its wings flap once again. The pattern makes an undulating motion, up, down, up, down; flap, pause, flap, pause.

As Heather and I watched,

the big magnificent bird devoured the suet in the feeder and it was easy to see why some folks say it resembles "Woody the Woodpecker."

We also noticed how the other birds kept their distance while "Woody" ate, respecting his size and intimidating look.

What a view we had from the kitchen window. What a treat to be able to see wildlife at such a close range.

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Turkey banquet a

huge success

The Rum River Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation held their annual fund-raising banquet on March 26 at the Milaca American Legion. According to John Otten, chapter president, the sold-out banquet was a huge success and the chapter set a state record for the number of sponsorships they sold (78). Proceeds from the banquet go to the NWTF super fund for projects such as wild turkey transplantation and land acquisition. The NWTF, through its local chapters, purchases selected tracts of wild land which benefits not only the wild turkey but other wildlife as well.

Local businesses and the Rum River Longbeards provided merchandise for the many door prizes, raffles and auctions at the banquet. Otten said the chapter greatly appreciates the support of the local businesses as well as the community. Anyone interested in joining the chapter can reach Otten at 320-369-4321.