As I type this post the temperature is depth charging to the minus teens below zero (not including windchill). In addition snowstorms will be hitting the northland at least through the end of March. Yet here we are midway through February and birds are starting to think of spring:

• Black-Capped Chickadees are singing their mating calls
• Great Horned Owls have ALREADY nested
• Snow Bunting are migrating north through the area on their way up to the Arctic Ocean (yes … the Northward Spring Migration IS in progress)
• Sharp-Tailed Grouse are starting to dance on their LEK’s

Finally,  Tom Turkeys are now strutting, displaying and courting their lady loves! This guy was doing his best to impress a female gaggle of turkeys. Regardless, enjoy the current blast of winter and start looking for spring activity.

The title of this post says it all … in January. Granted I am south down in the Plymouth, Minnesota area visiting my daughter’s family, but this is the UnWinter. There is zero snow on the ground but finding a Great Horned Owl already incubating eggs on January 28th is exceedingly weird. Our winter up north in Duluth is also extremely mild, but at least there is a few inches of snow on the ground. I had already started taking local “owl hikes” at night as I am convinced if the weather continues with this warm pattern, owls will nest much earlier this year. Last year my own local owls were not on the nest till early April.

Actually, with my tunnel vision focused on the owl, it took several minutes for me to realize this wild turkey was standing only 15 yards away from me. The image shows the total lack of snow.