Bug Out

Very little in the way of warm up is needed to liven up the overwintering insects that live in hidden cracks. In the first place there is so little moisture in their bodies and it is not really water anyway so the flies and other lively bugs come out ready to predate - hunt for food. I am searching McNary National Wildlife Refuge for signs of spring and besides flies I found Golden Currant bushes ready to burst into bloom. That is the first flower to come out around the visitor trail. Blackberry leaves never died and fell off so they are really off and running - so to speak - at least their runners tripped me when I scouted a path out where the birding spur goes into a wooded area. The over growth is daunting and I will not be one to blaze an new part of that trail. I must find some others who will. With only dead bushes now the bird watching area resembles a wildwood.
Tundra swans are feeding in a number of places beyond the island. They were not around for about a week and I thought for sure they had gone on to the arctic. Maybe these are others now on their way. Very few Canada geese are around. Those that have northern destinations are long gone. So are the migrating ducks. Shovelers are circling in their peculiar manner scooping tasty organisms out of the water surface. They will go on when the open waters come alive with the invertebrates they need to eat. A big large mouthed bass jumped up to grab an insect on the surface. I see a lonely mallard sleeping on the log but otherwise no activity on my pond.
That is not to say all is quite here on the Refuge. Huge noisy machines are scooping soil out of the driveway to Maple street for entrance to the adminstration building and carrying it out back where another big noisy machine is tearing out brush from our treasured bower, a place we use for learning experiences. The plans call for a concrete deck on the north side for office staff lounge and because that was a slope it must be built up to make a level deck. All in good time, although progress on the ground work is moving swiftly compared to how slowly the construction of the building moved. The Portland engineer was looking it all over yesterday and was pleased with what he saw. Moreover he was happy to know that the contractors on the job were amenable and easy to communicate with.
The temperature got up to 50 degrees but I do not feel all that warm when I stand in the wind so spring has not yet arrived. When the sun shines it matters not. When bugs begin to wiggle out of cracks they are out to stay. And so is spring.
Naomi Sherer