SPRING COMES CALLING

There's nothing sweeter these early mornings than the cheerily chirps of robins. During the last few nights the sound of falling rain has also been a sign of springs refreshing. The magpies are busier than ever carrying sizable twigs to their favourite spruce tree, and we sigh again as our efforts to scare them off last spring seems futile. Now, the most relentless spring caller has been the Northern Flicker who has chosen our metal chimney flue as his drum roll over the past few weeks. His mating ritual has been like a mini jackhammer right above our bedroom, followed by a shrill call, and if I listen carefully I can sometimes here a reply far in the distance. Seems he had been successful but after several days of silence he has come calling again - maybe he was jilted!  Ah, the simple things in the cycle of the seasons that put a smile on my face and make my heart glad.