When The Thermometer Tops 70 Degrees…

You just know it has to be spring when the warm winds of summer begin to tease nature’s winter-beaten landscape out of dormancy.   And as such today in the southern region of Minnesota we finally topped out at over 70 degrees for the first time in 2006.   It’s that awkward time of the year when you know the summer greens and blooms cannot be far off…yet last fall’s brown, barren landscape is still quite apparent.

I like spring, in fact, aside from fall being my favorite season I would have to say the month of April is a close second.   I cherish walking in the woods and watching the rebirth of the ground foliage and trees.   I also enjoy watching the wildlife as they seem to scamper around getting ready for a new phase in their life—likely the birth and rearing of their offspring.

Right now as I sit in the second story office of my home writing this blog I see a pair of wood ducks checking out an old soft maple tree just outside my window.   Oh sure, there are likely plenty of nesting opportunities in that old, decaying tree…but history has proven nesting there would not be a good choice.   It seems that almost every year a pair of “woodies” attempt this little stunt but eventually they give up because of the human traffic that inevitably walks past that old tree.   Too bad such an inviting tree for nesting happens to be juxtaposed so closely to human existence…but such is life.

If only there was a way to communicate to the ducks to go right ahead and build your nest.   I will trade you a prime nesting spot and offer greater security if only the ducks will allow me to peer in on their lives during the upcoming several weeks.   Now that’s what I would call a reality show that should be a hit on TV.   Of course, I will walk outside the house to my truck a few more times during the next few days and hear the female “woodie”  crrek, crrek, crrek, crrek, crrek, crrek as they wing off in the distance.   Eventually, the pair get tired of this disruptive routine and choose different digs for the upcoming nesting season.

Then here in the northlands another true sign of spring is the annual “ice out” date for area lakes.   I heard on the news this past weekend that some of the Twin Cities area lakes were officially “ice out” as of last Saturday.   That’s pretty typical for metro area lakes.   But if you’re into this climatological data you might find this chart interesting.   It appears that in Minnesota, on average, most “ice out” dates occur during the month of April.   Yet, look at some of the historical data for latest “ice out.”   Can you imagine experiencing ice on a lake until after Memorial Day?   No wonder folks in other parts of the country think Minnesota is such a cold weather location.    I guess the data actually proves it out to be true for some parts.

One of the surest signs of spring for me personally is the arrival of the many spring wildflowers.   I guess it’s a passion of mine that dates back nearly 20 years ago when I once worked for the Minnesota DNR in their Parks Department.   I aided various naturalists and gave countless guided tours to observe the many spring and summer flowers at my local state park.   Check out last year’s blog entry here about my spring wildflower photography adventures.   Sometimes there’s much more to being a sportsman than just shooting or catching things.   Sometimes you need to stop and appreciate the finer things nature has to offer.   It maybe doesn’t make you a better sportsman per se, but it most certainly helps to round out the overall enjoyment of the experience living outdoors.

Indeed, the spring season is about to give way to a summer filled with lots of activity that is quite different than what has been experienced over the past few months.   Perhaps nowhere else but the Northland can you live through the theater of seasons and witness such distinct differences from one month to the next.   And when you thrive on time spent outdoors, as most sportsmen do, each change takes on a significant meaning that you can’t help but better appreciate all the opportunities you’ve been given to experience it.

© 2006 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.