I just got in from enjoying a coffee on our deck. It has been a lazy day so far, and I’m actually the only one awake right now. But it is a typically bright sunny day and I headed out to the corner of the deck between the living room and Hilary’s room to enjoy a late morning cuppa.
It’s -14 C (about 7 F) right now, and I closed my eyes while I listened to the sounds of the community, mostly snowmobiles and howling sled dogs, and rolled things around my head. I know that for those of you who are experiencing, um, slightly warmer temperatures than we are right now, this next statement is going to sound incredible, or at the very least strange, but so be it. I was hot.
Yes, hot. As I was stretched out on the bench, with my back in the corner, not a whiff of a breeze could find me. I was, or rather am, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and no shoes or socks, but I started to think that a breeze would be nice, and that I should get some sunblock. You see, in the Arctic you have to think in terms of micro-climates. For although the air temperature might be -15C, down low to the ground, or in sheltered areas exposed to the sun, the sun’s heat gets a chance to work, and it feels positively balmy. It is, in part, the reason why our plants here are built low to the ground, and part of what enables them to thrive and reproduce.
**(Its later now, for the rest of my household is awake and there are more important things to do than write. Don’t want you to think that everyone is still in bed at 4:00 pm.)
As I am wont to do, I scanned the sky for Ravens, and saw a couple flying directly and purposefully high in the sky, no more than dark specks against the pale blue. As my mind bounced around between blogs, and birds, I realized that I was very anxious this year for the arrival of the migrants. Darn it, its hard reading about the plethora of birds arriving or moving through down south. I want them here, now! Really though I should expect the first Glaucous Gulls in a week or so, and male Snow Buntings must be close.
I had been thinking that I was going to observe birds this year a little more seriously, travel a little farther afield and not just look for my usual friends. I’ve already started submitting checklists for the NWT/Nunavut Bird Survey and wanted a little more coverage then they’d normally get from me. An old report in a journal on the birds of Arctic Bay also has me enthused, both with what they saw back in the 70’s and what they didn’t see. Owning a decent digital camera now has also inspired me, to try and get photos of all the species I see this year.
So with all of this bouncing around in my head it was only natural, I suppose, that I’ve decided to do another blog, more of a web page really – The Birds of Arctic Bay. I’m not sure what format it will take just yet, but you know, I’m pretty sure I’ll let you know.
Comments
5 responses
Sounds exciting. I’m certainly curious to see what you come up with!
Nice header!
Thanks Liza, I’ve got the style figured out, now to put in some content.
Thanks Trudie.
Oooohh. Awesome idea. I can’t wait. All of these migrants will be with you soon. I would love to know what is happening up there. Put your B&B info in the sidebar and you may be getting migrants of your own.
Thanks for the idea bevson. I really do need to put something up.