Harsh, cold wind buffets the North Shore. Fifty mile per hour gusts make the minus ten degree air feel like forty below. Facing the wind, the force of the air into your lungs makes inhaling for a breathe difficult. Lying in bed listening to the storm my mind raced and construed every possible contortion the surrounding trees could make to hit the house. My worrying was unwarranted. We woke to debris-ridden forest floor and snow drifts across the road.
There has been a surge in Boreal Owl sitings on the North Shore. This small bird is only about 10 inches in length with a wingspan that can approach 24 inches. Like many owls, it's nocturnal. The fact that most of these sitings are during the day alarms me. The home range of the Boreal is further to the north in the coniferous forests of Canada. However, an apparent plunge in rodent populations have forced the owls south in search of prey.
Fresh wolf scat is on the road. A couple of nights ago we woke at three AM to them howling nearby.
Successive clippers have brought a series of snow storms across the region; easing the concern of a dry winter and prolonged drought. Up until the wind storm the ski trails have been perfect! Now they are littered with fallen twigs and downed trees...
These nighttime winds are keeping a lot of us awake, with thoughts of trees down on houses. In fact, this morning, a neighbor's house was host to a fallen tree, without much damage, fortunately, but scarey to see, nonetheless. Temps here in Indiana have totally frozen the maple sap run for now, and I can't even empty the full containers on the trees. Spring is coming soon. I'm really looking forward to it. Our barred owls are filling the night-time air with mating calls. They're ready for spring too.
ReplyDelete