Last winter was a doozer! This winter already seems to be following suit. We had cold temperatures and lots of snow last year right through to April and it was May before we saw the ground again. Already we have a few feet of snow and the temperatures have dropped below thirty many nights. The last week saw day time temperatures hovering close to that too.
It is hard on the animals, who basically just try to eat enough to stay warm. They huddle together to share body heat. The waterfowl and the sheep are the least affected and the goats the most. They only come out to eat and then run back to their shelter and stay there. When it snows, they hardly want to come out to eat, but of course they do.
But winter brings a pristine clean landscape full of wonder. The little chickadees share the suet on the meat that the dogs leave behind. They are a delight to watch, flitting here and there and singing their songs. Magpies are bolder than the ravens and they will come right to the front doorstep and steal the meat too, but they are beautiful birds with their black and white distinct feathers. The ravens have been hanging around the sheep pen. In the spring when the ducks start to lay eggs, the ravens wait on the fence and dive in to steal every egg. This year, I will close the door to their shelter and the ravens will be thwarted then. I think they ate four lambs last year though. The livestock guardians do not see them as threats. I will have to work on that.The contrast of their gleaming black feathers against the snow brings a beauty of its own and they really are a majestic bird.
The trees are heavily frosted with the snow covering. Over the last three days, it has snowed non stop and the branches are laden with the marshmallow dollops. Today, the sun came out for the first time, but soon it was gone, because it gets dark so early now. Briefly, the Alberta sky was blue and bright and the glistening snow had glittering diamonds sprinkled throughout. What a scene! What majesty! I am humbled by mother nature and this winter beauty. So amazing!
It is hard on the animals, who basically just try to eat enough to stay warm. They huddle together to share body heat. The waterfowl and the sheep are the least affected and the goats the most. They only come out to eat and then run back to their shelter and stay there. When it snows, they hardly want to come out to eat, but of course they do.
But winter brings a pristine clean landscape full of wonder. The little chickadees share the suet on the meat that the dogs leave behind. They are a delight to watch, flitting here and there and singing their songs. Magpies are bolder than the ravens and they will come right to the front doorstep and steal the meat too, but they are beautiful birds with their black and white distinct feathers. The ravens have been hanging around the sheep pen. In the spring when the ducks start to lay eggs, the ravens wait on the fence and dive in to steal every egg. This year, I will close the door to their shelter and the ravens will be thwarted then. I think they ate four lambs last year though. The livestock guardians do not see them as threats. I will have to work on that.The contrast of their gleaming black feathers against the snow brings a beauty of its own and they really are a majestic bird.
The trees are heavily frosted with the snow covering. Over the last three days, it has snowed non stop and the branches are laden with the marshmallow dollops. Today, the sun came out for the first time, but soon it was gone, because it gets dark so early now. Briefly, the Alberta sky was blue and bright and the glistening snow had glittering diamonds sprinkled throughout. What a scene! What majesty! I am humbled by mother nature and this winter beauty. So amazing!
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