It is -21F at 6:15 am as I type out this post. My yard birds, Mr. and Mrs. Great Horned Owls are hooting out their love. They will soon nest. While many of you may think life stops at temperatures this cold, we Northlanders take it all in stride, but make minor adjustments. Lake Superior is freezing over on the Duluth end of the big lake, and when the ice sheet forms completely Duluth will stop being an island of warmth (-38 in the Bog right now). For instance … yesterday I still took a workout and went Nordic skiing. However I waited till the mercury rose to -4F before skiing. My workout clothes had an extra layer of thermal protection.

This week I will be covering two fantastic area sporting events. Even I wonder how the participants survive their races. Today I will photograph the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race, which will see the mushers and dogs race up the shore from Duluth to Grand Portage. Monday and Tuesday I will be covering the Arrowhead 135 for the Lake Country Journal. These hardy athletes race 135 miles in an ultra marathon from International Falls to Vermilion Lake. Both races keep the participants out on the courses over night … at -40F (-40C). I get to sleep in a motel room and venture out at times to various spots in the forest to take photographs. Uff dah!

Oh yes, I still go birding at these temperatures, but I sometimes wait till it warms up a touch. My friend, Greg, and I drove over to Sax-Zim Bog on Friday afternoon. I wanted to introduce Greg to Fluffy! We also saw some some cool birds, among others our sightings included the Northern Hawk Owl, this Ruffed Grouse and Boreal Chickadee. The real question most people should want to answer … Do Boreal Chickadees prefer Jif or Skippy Peanut Butter?!

Another image of Fluffy!