Maggie's Farm

My blackbirds arrived up here today. They are my first sign of approaching Spring. Five days later than last year (yes, I write the date in pencil on my cabin wall, next to the window. Doesn't everybody?). Using basic math, that means we must be 1.36% colder this year than last year, and are entering an ominous cooling period. What is snow-cover, after all, but the big glacier - in kindergarten? Or in senescence?

What are blackbirds? It's generic for grackles, red-wings, cowbirds, and their relatives, around here. They flock together and migrate together, as birds of a feather do. In breeding season, though, they stick with their own kind. Very wise to do so.

I know exactly when they arrive, because they remember me, and empty my bird feeder in five minutes. Very hungry after their overnight flight, irritable, mentally ragged, noisily complaining, and jet-lagged. Like the Jet Blue customers.