Day 343

4/24/23

Migration is an amazing sight to behold! Today, I had two different views of this phenomena...one at the end of a leash and the other from our cottage deck!

First, I was out walking Sam when a pair of mallards decided to make an appearance right in front of us! The poor babies haven't been in Minnesota long, so Sammy was unfamiliar with this new creature. With my gloves gripping the leash (GLOVES? What is wrong with this spring season?), I discovered I was not holding on quite hard enough for our 80-pound puppy and he escaped my grip! Horrified, and picturing the worst, I called his name and told him to "Come!" Heartfelt thanks to 'Cloud 9 Dog Training!" He actually stopped in his pursuit of the mystery birds and returned to sit in front of me! Whew! "Good Boy, Sam! YES!"

The next experience was up at our cottage later in the morning. I stepped out on the deck and saw a multitude of common Mergansers land right in front of our beach! I first thought, "What are those loons doing with the ducks?", but then realized all of these birds were of the same species. The males look like loons, while the females resemble wood ducks. I am learning so much about our winged friends and love the lessons!

People migrate as well! Many of our dear friends are "Snow Birds" and fly south for the winter. I think they might just be smarter than those of us who remain in Minnesota and take on the cold, snow, ice...and that is just April! We have friends who escape to Texas, Florida, California and Arizona! They seem to have the right idea!

Now our dear friends are migrating back with the robins, common mergansers, loons, mallards and all the rest of the creatures who know when to find a climate that is not too hot or cold.

I wonder if The Three Bears (Goldilocks) thought about that? Probably not...they just hibernated like all the rest of "Us Minnesotans" and are now coming out of their dens to enjoy the weather!