Despite the fact that it’s still 15°F below zero, I’m feeling reasonably positive about February. For the first time since we’ve kept track, we have ID’ed double digit year-birds in February. I realize part of it is that we have been recording species in two separate areas of Montana this year. Regardless, it feels good to be in double digits.
The weekend ahead looks to be warming up into the 40s. That would be terrific. As long as we don’t have another severe cold snap before the end of March, I suspect Freezeout Lake will be at least partially open by the time the main pulse of waterfowl arrive around the third week of March.
I’m looking forward to seeing the return of the migratory species. It feels to me as if it been an uncharacteristically cold, dreary winter in Helena.
We have four days left in the month and two of them are weekend days. My hope is we find a few more species. Regardless, I’m very happy to have found Rusty Blackbirds in the Helena Valley again. I haven’t seen them for a year or so. Fifty-four species as of today, hoping for 60 by the end of the month. Probably overly optimistic, but that’s ok!
Work in continuing on NatureMT.com- but it still has a way to go.
Nature, every day. 
Leave a Reply