Let’s here it for Moms everywhere. Soon it will be Mother’s Day, and these fine females raise the kids, guard the home, and teach their young how to conquer the world. With Great Horned Owls, our Mom has to put up with crow attacks all day long. During the night she hunts (along with Dad) to bring home the bacon. It’s amazing Mom ever gets any sleep? Sound familiar, you human Moms? Great Horned Owl Moms lead a tough life.

Thus … Mom, the Great Horned Owl (also known as Amy … photographed at sunset last night and sunrise this morning)

Her triplets … the youngsters she keeps safe. (photographed this morning)

Yesterday, this Bald Eagle stretched its wings in salute to Mom! (photographed at my local Wisconsin wetlands yesterday morning)

I hiked over to my Great Horned Owl nest yesterday evening. While only 8 days ago I was wondering if there was only one surviving owlet, I am now thinking I was wrong all along and there are three chicks! (video link for email subscribers)

In addition I made the short trip over to the Wisconsin grasslands. Wow! Birds are really starting to arrive. Perhaps spring may really be hear (note to self: ignore heavy snow warnings for this weekend).

One of six Killdeer that I suspect were migrating further north.

Bald Eagle overlooking a “hunting pond”

And Hay Bale Betty! My thanks to the farmer who provided me a smile while I was out birding. During this health crisis, we all need a smile.

It may be April Fool’s Day, but I saw my first Meadowlark of the season … no fooling! I know from experience that Spring comes much earlier along the south shore of Lake Superior. In fact the grasslands near Cloverland have warmer temperatures almost three weeks on average (according to me) before my northeastern Boreal forest. The absolute distance between the two habitats is small, but almost all winds which blow across the big lake keep the boreal forest much cooler. Ice out for the ponds and lakes near my house is still a long time off. However, only 20 miles away the world is waking up.

I found this Eastern Meadowlark advertising its presence this morning. In addition I saw Red-Winged Blackbirds and heard a Killdeer. The number of birds that have arrived back in the Northland is still small, and only a fraction so far of these three kinds of birds, but how nice it was to see this color and hear their song!

Meanwhile back at the ranch … the Great Horned Owl chicks were sound asleep just before noon, and the Red-Bellied Woodpecker just would not come out completely from behind its favorite drumming tree.