[Birdtalk] Dress rehearsal for Spring . . .

[Mark Stackhouse]

As many of you bundle up for a cold morning cruising the causeway for 
sea ducks, or going for gulls at the Lee Kay ponds, or looking for 
longspurs in the frozen valley near Howell, or scouring sparrow flocks 
at Willard Bay, I'd like to send a happy thought your way.

The dress rehearsal for Spring has begun far away to the south.

As I was walking my fiance to the school where she teaches this 
morning, I heard a familiar twitter overhead. Looking up, I saw a group 
of Barn Swallows cavorting above us. Nothing particularly unusual about 
that. However, this morning several of the birds were sporting really 
brilliant rusty breasts that gleamed in the morning sun. There was a 
certain earnestness in their play that suggested preparation for more 
serious business to come. There could be no doubt - these swallows were 
feeling Spring, and getting ready in full costume.

Spring - coming soon to an outdoor amphitheater near you.

Meanwhile, stay warm and enjoy  those gulls.

Mark

Mark Stackhouse
mark at westwings.com
801-487-9453 (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
011-52-323-285-1243 (San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico)