Yesterday morning (3/4) as I walked out to the road to get the newspaper at
7AM, I heard and saw my first male red-winged blackbird of the season,
giving me hope for the end of this seemingly ceaseless winter. It was the
first morning that smacked of thaw. This is later than usual this year, so
one can hardly blame the blackbirds from hanging back. We have no marshes
to speak of on the Flint Ridge upland, and the local farm ponds are still
solidly frozen. They say it will be zero again tonight. We will abide.

As for other vernal signs, cardinals have been singing in spite of the
frigid temperatures, obviously urged on by the lengthening daylight.
Woodpeckers are drumming.

Bob Evans
Geologist, etc.
Hopewell Township, Muskingum County

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