Man, it is like a dam broke…there’s just this sudden explosion of activity in the natural world…

I was outside with doggie.  Warm…not quite up to the 50 degrees yet.  A gentle breeze. Sun shining brightly.

As I’m standing there, I hear  something that’s not quite a chirp, more like “brrrt”.  I look up to see what look like geese flying in a “v” formation…but it’s not geese.

They’re cranes.  I have seen them many times through here, but have not had the pleasure of listening to them call to each other.  They’re definitely the young returning–not quite the size of the adults.

We fortunately live near a nature preserve.  Sadly, though, it is fenced and not open to the public.

All I can do is walk by, peering in…

“…put’em in a tree museum, and charge people a dollar and a half just to see them…”

(Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi)