Living
Al Brown | Tracking the Seasons
Hey Santa: From crimson red to blaze orange
The snow world was quiet again, save for the caustic, haughty calls of a lonesome crow.
Irritated over the presence of a coyote at the remains of a fallen doe someone couldn't recover during the snowless regular gun season, the black feathered scavenger wasn't pleased sharing its breakfast with such a hairy interloper.
High above, as if etched with charcoal against grey, moisture laden clouds, long wavering skeins of southbound Canada geese could be heard saying their goodbye to any and all who would take time to listen.
Activity at the bird feeders has been heavy and constant these days, with all manner of feathered visitors stoking their tiny boilers for the long, cold nights ahead.
From mourning doves and blue jays to cardinals, downy woodpeckers, juncos and chickadees, all are drawn to the high energy sunflower seeds and the suet blocks.
The snow rake came out after the storm. With more than eight inches of the heavy white stuff still on the roof, I considered it prudent to pull off the lower two feet to expose the dark shingles to minimize the possibility of ice damming.
Though the nights have been cold, the warmer days have helped melt some of the snow that damaged numerous trees around our place. The arborvitae and red cedars in particular have suffered the most from the weight of the wet snow.
Fortunately, their dark green foliage absorbs the sun's warmth fast, helping to melt the snow and allowing many of their limbs to recover with minimum damage.
We don't have any cats at our house, but the neighbors' felines have apparently taken it upon themselves to keep the local mouse population under control.
At least the tracks in the snow seem to indicate as much. Big tracks and little tracks lead up and down our driveway, around the house, onto the front porch and under all the snow-covered bushes. Since I've seen no evidence of feathers or fur, I have to assume they must be taking everything home to share with the rest of the family.
For the time being at least, blaze orange is not the required outerwear color for travelers in the deer woods.
With the Holiday Deer hunt set to begin this Thursday, Christmas eve, it might be wise to leave Santa a note to that affect.
Changing his red suit to blaze orange and bringing back Rudolf with his shiny red nose to safely guide the other deer that day might not be a bad idea.
Merry Christmas.
- Hunters and mentors
- Don't know what you've got …
- Survival of the fittest
- If you can't stand the heat …
- Let's talk turkey
- Inclement weather!
- Snowmobiling and driving - not a good mix
- Sun, wind, earth and snow
- Survival of the fittest? Or survival of the doe?
- Don't worry, I've got your 'beak'
- The year that was
- Where are all the deer?
- Late freeze extends muskie season
- The smell of failure didn't last long
- Happy hunting!
- Bucks come a running
- Confused in more ways than one
- Confused in more ways than one
- Ready ... Set ... Fire
- Sit back and relax - for now
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