The winter without snow continues including much warmer temperatures than normal. Here in northern MInnesota we have turned into a skater’s Mecca. Conditions are night last week were perfect for forming lake ice, and the world has turned out to skate for miles on end on glass smooth lakes. The lack of storms has slowed down the push of predators to road sides. In fact, many birds which would normally be long gone by now have hung around taking advantage of no snow, and ice free pockets on lakes (normally where streams flow into lakes). The Trumpeter Swans were enjoying some shallow water with available food this morning.