Oh, what sweet relief as the undeniable signs of spring arrive.  From the distant gobble of a turkey and many bird songs, to the bulbs surfacing in my garden.  One can’t help but smile, especially after such a challenging winter, with the ice storm of a century now just five weeks behind us.

But perhaps one of our most pleasing encounters has been the almost daily stream traffic of ducks. We’re amazed at the unique details each possess. The distinct differences between male and female mergansers, at least at first glance, might lead one to think they’re looking at two different species of duck, with the female traveling more incognito vs the male who is seemingly grandstanding his beauty. The Common Mergansers are back, and for the first time, we’re seeing the stunning Hooded

Mergansers.  Mergansers are divers, and

skilled they are at their food seeking prowess traveling considerable distance under water in pursuit of nourishment. (Hopefully they’ll steer clear of my beloved Brown Trout this

summer, but somehow, I doubt this as fate may be upon them.)  The more timid Wood Ducks are a visual feast with their beautiful colors and patterns.  The Mallards have been a regular over the past few months.  The male’s colors seem more vibrant right now, their rich velvet green head contrasting the rest of their body.  We see ducks most often in pairs, with an occasional loner.  Over the past month or so, we see and hear the louder, larger Canadian Geese traveling in large flocks, touching down as they please for a “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” experience.  Their chosen stops must have high ratings on “Yelp” as they seem to return to the same areas each year.

With spring on the loose, we’re seeing more changes than usual to the landscape and streams.  As the opener for stream fishing is upon us in northern Michigan, these changes require careful planning. So many branches and downed trees from the recent ice storm are creating barriers, and in places even blocking access, at least from a human perspective.  My nephew, Troy, an avid outdoorsman, had the following response to this concern from me regarding the effects on our fishing streams… “Great!  Good habitat.  New spots.”  An optimist and hardcore fisherman, for sure, Troy has much longer legs than mine for navigating these conditions.  His positivity reminded me that nature has a way. It’s not stagnated, just as the waters continue to flow.

I hope you’re enjoying the milder temperatures, fresh air, sunshine, nature’s sounds and time to reflect on God’s amazing creation.  Though our lives and surroundings are in a constant state of flux, and that’s okay, I’m glad His love remains the one constant.  Feeling grateful and enjoying this peace for my mental health and looking forward to more from our front row seat.