THE SAGA OF THE SEASONS ...

 

Nature In Retrospect – First printed in the Smoke Signals, Spring 1996

 

Spring is a roller coaster ride. Nature creates an amusement park adventure for all of us who enjoy the great out-of-doors. We have a ticket to ride whether or not we want it. January brings days when the temperatures reaches highs that have us looking for the lighter jacket even though we know that the ride will soon plunge us back to the deep freezer of true winter.

 

Snow depths begins to shrink, water puddles form, and mud appears wherever it is most inconvenient. It is all just a tease. Another day brings the temperature back down below freezing and even lower. Water turns to ice and the whole world shivers again. When will it be warm again becomes the foremost topic of conversation. It seems to last forever- this cold and dreary time of year- the bottom of the ride toward spring.

 

Then, just when almost all hope has gone, the upward ride begins. Slowly, so very slowly, temperatures begin to moderate. Spring begins to make a comeback. Will it last this time? We know that it will but it will also take time. Again the snow melts and now it is for real.. Bare patches appear on the lawns

and in the woods. Ponds form and streams begin to run. Ice changes to mud and soon that will become green grass. Nature has given us the ride to summer again.

 

Spring is a concert given by nature's master musicians. Running water supplies the theme as it gurgles and tinkles along it's chosen channels. The Red-winged black bird, newly arrived from the South, adds his variations to the theme and other birds that have been here all winter join in to create a new song. The bass notes as added. as the ice on the lake begins to boom and crack. Before long the spring peepers and other frogs will be adding their appointed notes to the theme and a crescendo of joyous sound will welcome the arrival of summer.

 

Spring is an exhibit given freely to all who will come to see it. Winter paints the world with shades of black and gray to form the background for an appreciation for the subtle colors of spring. Willows in the lowlands are among the first to tint the blue sky with traceries of yellow and the dogwoods add their reds and purples to the snow covered ground. Silver gray pussy-willows puff into view with the promise of green leaves not too far in the future. Buds swell on other trees, bushes and plants to add their shadings of color to the world that has been monochromatic for many months. Even as the last patches of snow are still to be found in shades spots, the spring flowers are making an appearance. Yellow march-marigolds and the infinite tones of purple of the hepatica dot the stream banks and the uplands. Nature is dipping her paint brush into all the colors that anyone can imagine to create a vibrant scene for the entrance of summer.

 

Spring is an adventure for all to enjoy. It is a treat for the eye and the ear and all the other senses. It is time to rejoice and a time to enjoy.

 

Renee Towne

 

 

 

 

 

 

We find the weather changing from clear to snow, from pleasant to cold, and from sunny to clouds, our local pileated woodpecker felt the call of Spring. Photo does not represent a Winter Scene! ( It is, however, a pileated Woodpecker) After demolishing the suet block in our feeder all winter without a sound, he burst into his mating call with gusto. Issuing a sound that cannot be called a pleasant melody; the bird flew back and forth “singing” over the bird feeder. The cartoon character, Woody Woodpecker, tries but comes hardly close to the song of the pileated woodpecker, the inspiration for him. Then it swept in and sat on the suet feeder raising his voice with a sound that would wake the trolls sleeping in the nearby woods. Without eating the pileated woodpecker flew to a hollow tree and  hammered out a loud rhythm. Breaking the  drumming he called out painfully for a mate.

 

Will this magnificent bird find true love? I cannot imagine a lady pileated not finding him attractive. As for the human race, the voice of the pileated woodpecker can send chills down the spine on a quiet walk in the woods when there is a sudden outburst from one of these birds. The large black colored bird with some white feathers and a red top notch is easily identified. The large bill tears large holes in the soft dead spots in live trees, dead trees, rail fences, wooden fence posts and sometimes even in rot in wooden buildings.

 

As the battle between winter and summer progresses, there are cautions to be taken on the ice. A few warm days can melt the ice on both sides making soft spots in foot deep ice cover. Cold nights can cause dangerous ice cover on a lake look safe. As was learned by the recent disaster on Lake Winnebago where a man lost his life when a truck fell through on an “ice road”, vibrations from driving on ice can cause weak spots. Anyone planning to drive on the ice should always take precautions, especially in March.

 

March 5th the pileated woodpecker romance update: apparently there is no match yet. The male bird is still singing and drumming on the hollow tree. I guess as long as his voice holds out and he doesn’t fall the tree or he finally gets a mate the search will continue.

 

Another bird looking for romance is an owl. This past week he has been “whoing” at night. It seems that he is either late this year or I missed his earlier advertisements. Maybe he is just a shy creature and had to get desperate before he stated a courtship.

 

Proof the animals communicate is at our bird feeders. This morning there were 14 squirrels that came to eat. This is the most we have seen all winter. Finches have been the largest mob free loading this winter. At times there were about 60 to 70 finches eating, singing and fighting for the best selection. Think “Black Friday” after Thanksgiving Day. This week there were finches in the hundreds eating a pail of seeds a day. Some where the squirrels and birds must gather to compare local “restaurants”.

 

Light snow this week made some of the side roads a little slick and the main roads messy. It is the time of the year when you take your car to the car wash and drive home and your partner says, “That car sure could use a good washing.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the fog and the thaw, the temperatures turned cool enough to freeze the water on the ice. February 19, 2011 there was a good turn out for the fishing tournament. Although a little cool after the nice thaw, the sun made it quite comfortable to be out on the ice. Several nice northerns were turned in and a few bass according to rumors. The District Communications Committee discussed how up coming fish tournaments may be communicated. These events are usually posted in the lodge office. An effort will be made to post them on the web site when the posters are hung.

 

Major snow storms have been tracking to the south of Legend Lake so the second one of the season began at 2:00 PM here. I’ll not argue over the depth of the snow however it was about 12 inches where the wind had not piled it up. There was a big surprise when the County snowplow came through on Monday morning about 10:00. The wind made highways along open stretches hazardous. Tuesday Highway 29 to Green Bay still had many vehicles in the ditches waiting for a tow truck.

 

For people who enjoy snow recreation, there should be good conditions for a while.

 

 

On Sunday February 13, the long cold spell of January began to break. Wild life of all kinds began to stir again. Blue jays that had been missing for several weeks flocked into the bird feeders. The pair of cardinals took turns at guard duty and feeding. Bird species that had made scattered appearances came in flocks. Squirrels by the dozen tried the fortifications of the “squirrel proof” bird feeders. Many that tried gave up and were content with the seeds dropped by their confederates, the finches and chick-a-dees who dropped seeds to them. A red fox trotted across the beach club unconcerned and not menaced by anything.

 

Snowmobiles were roaring across the lake as people were taking advantage of a break in the weather and adequate snow. Sounds from the lake indicated that ice fishing was also popular. Down the way there must have been a snow ball fight as the squeals of children who had the cold wet experience of the impact of snow in the face.

 

Although pleasant, this is not necessarily the coming of spring. More than likely it is just a late January thaw. A warm spell this time of the year is always welcome no mater what it may be called.

 

Now there is always a news story about the ground hog and if he sees his shadow. Here it if any come out on February 2nd no one is apt to notice. Yet there is one animal who leaves its winter shelter that no one has to see to know he is about. February 14, Valentines Day, there was no missing that it had been in the yard in the recent past. The distinct skunk smell hung like a fog in the air. The skunk had left it winter den at night, but apparently wanted to announce its arrival. Does the smell of a skunk summon an early spring or a longer winter? No one seems to care.

 

With the temperature rising to 46 degrees on February 14th and 38 degrees on February 15th (unofficial reading on our thermometer) the snow on snowmobile trails was disappearing fast. There were announcements that some trails would be closed until further notice. This time of year anyone who comes here to ride their snowmobiles needs to check before hauling their machines for a weekend. Of course if one wants to slush across the frozen lake there is an option to trails. Take heart those persons who relish the freedom of the go anywhere vehicles. March snows are yet to come.

 

February 16, the sun is bright again today with the temperature expected in the upper 30’s. The snow is down to where the leaves that fell since the last rake hit the lawn are poking out. The buds on the oak trees are pushing off the leaves that have held on all winter. Even many of the gold finch males are showing yellow feathers. Let’s not get too excited about spring, there will still be a lot of winter to come.

 

 

 

Who Killed the Ghost?

 

One day this fall a half grown gray patterned cat staggered down our drive way. He was very thin and starving. He came to us and with a soft meow asking for food. We gave him some of our cat’s food and soon he was purring. As no one came looking for him we took on the responsibility of his welfare. The cat had to have a name … so what to call him? When he curled up in the leaves, he was almost impossible to see until he moved. Ghost seemed to fit.

 

This animal had been taught to love and trust people. A cute little kitten who became a gangly teen ager. Summer was over and the cat no longer had a place in the home he knew. Tossed out into the wild without the skills to survive and left to die a cruel death in the woods. This happens all to often to pets. Lost and frightened he had wandered for days until he found us. Is there humanity in humans?

 

We have never had a more loving pet. The few months he was with us were too short. Ghost loved to cuddle, and purr. He would follow us and stand guard as we worked on getting the yard ready for winter of when we shoveled snow. A playful cat he would try to grab shoe laces and pants cuffs. Maybe this is why he had a limp. Some one may have kicked him.

 

There is an indoor cat that lives here. She will not tolerate any other cat. We could not bring Ghost into the house. The solution was to build an insulated cat house with heat in it for the winter. Ghost was afraid of the house at first, but that is where we put his food. In time he moved in and made a nest where he could be comfortable. A couple of other cats also showed up, but the half grown little brat would not let them into his house. He drove off the other cats that were almost twice his size. For the food and house Ghost gave us lots of purrs, love, and liked to ride on our shoulders.

 

During the cold spell he did not come out too much. If there was sun he would sit on top of his house to take it in. Then one day we did not see Ghost. The next day when he did not show up I looked into his house. Ghost is dead.

 

When Ghost came to us nearly starved some one had tossed him out. Although he did not show signs of pain when he walked, but his left front leg did not track just right. His meow was very soft as if he may have been kicked in the throat at some time. The person or persons who tossed him out are cruel. They do not deserve to have a dog or cat or bird or any kind of pet. I do not know who they are, but Ghost did not die of cold or starvation. He most likely died from the treatment he had at the hands of his first owners. May they some day suffer a similar fate.