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Signs of Spring

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There is still a lot of snow on the ground but this week in northwest Ohio the temps are actually above normal. I'm hoping that by the end of the week sections of our marsh and pond will thaw and maybe, just maybe, a few ducks will fly in. In years past we've had gadwalls, northern shovelers, green-winged teal, redheads, lesser scaup and blue-winged teal fly in to our 12 acres and it's not uncommon for hooded mergansers and wood ducks to nest on our property.

Two male lesser scaups pursuing a female scaup on our pond.

Some harbingers of spring can only be heard, not seen. Two mornings ago the calls of sandhill cranes could be heard coming from a marsh east of us along with a killdeer that was in a marsh southwest of us. Add to that the cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, Canada geese and one lone titmouse closer to our house and it's like nature's symphony enjoyed in surround sound. In the following video you can hear some of the sounds of spring while watching this house wren clean out a nest box.



Of course, with a major spring thaw comes lots and lots of mud and since we live in a marshy area it can be a challenge just to walk from the house to the barn. In this type of environment regular barn boots won't be up to the task and we have to switch to knee boots.

An essential item if you live in a marsh.
I had to replace this pair of Muck boots last spring when they began to leak and the sole fell off my right boot. My new pair have been placed near the back door, ready to help me slog through the water and mud of spring.
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