The Sun Brings Migrating Birds and Flowers

Our quiet winter wilderness has become very

noisy lately due to all the migrating

ducks and birds. 

Our ponds, lakes, and streams are full of ducks and

geese looking for good nesting spots.

And...the air is filled with song!!!

It's a total rebirth for my soul!!

I went down to the Lagoon and took some beautiful

photos of the Canadian Geese that 

are resting before they fly on

to their summer nesting destinations.

The Sea Gulls have also arrived, they make such

a racket, but I love them.

I spotted this lone American Wigeon.  These ducks are among the

earliest waterfowl to reach their summering grounds.  They

usually lay about 9 eggs and forage on grasses and sedges.

They winter in Central America, the Caribbean, Northern Colombia, Trinidad and 

occasionally Venezuela so they have come a long way to reach the 

ponds and lakes in Alaska. 

There were of course a lot of Mallards around sunning 

themselves on the shore.

In the woods the Pussy Willows were starting to bloom.

They look so tropical with their

brilliant red stamens.  These stamens turn

yellow after about 24 hours.

  

On the forest floor the Caribou Moss is 

starting to find its way out of

its wintry blanket.

Now there are small mini micro climates popping up.  These small micro

climates are hosts to the

first real flowers of spring!

There are Sandhill Cranes foraging for food in snowy fields.

These birds use thermals to obtain lift when they fly, they can stay

aloft for many hours.  They travel from New Mexico.  Their diet is

the most varied among breeding birds.  They feed on berries, small mammals, 

insects, snails, reptiles and amphibians.

Down at the Lagoon the ducks and geese were busy jostling for prime resting and nesting spots.

Many of them will fly on to the Interior and the Arctic Circle, but some

will stay and make their summer homes down at the

Lagoon.

They will have to fly over snow capped mountains in search of 

marshes to raise their young.

It's so exciting to have them back!!!  Without them 

it wouldn't be spring!!