HARBINGER OF SPRING

Happy Valentine's Day to all you Blippers. As I awake to a  -35°F. windchill (-37.2°C.) this morning, I'm thinking of warmer days ahead. For those of you who don't know this bird, it's a Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phnoecieus). It's often the first migratory bird to show up in the Spring. Typically, the males arrive to set up their territories on March 12th, +/- 2 days. That's only a month away. The American Robins arrive shortly thereafter and, as legend tells us, it has to snow on the robin's tail three times before Spring really arrives. But by then the Vernal Equinox has arrived and the intensity of the sun's rays will make short work of any snow that falls.

BTW...The Chevrolet automobile company (General Motors) has an SUV model called the Equinox. I think Chevy is missing a fantastic promotional opportunity by not offering a substantial price discount if you purchase an Equinox ON the Equinox (which would happen twice a year). So far, Chevy has not listened to me...which is probably why I'm a biologist and not a marketing expert working for an advertising agency.