2.20.2006

Signs of global warming?

Our lake thawed at the end of last week, after enduring highs in the 50's most of the week. It continued to thaw on Saturday and Sunday even after temperatures dropped into the teens. Woke this morning to find it starting to freeze again, but I suspect that a sunny day with temperatures in the low 30's should spell doom for the new ice.

It seems entirely possible that it won't freeze fully for the rest of the winter.

Amazingly, as soon as there was open water, there were ducks swimming in it. Were they hanging out in some portion of the adjacent marsh that doesn't freeze? Where the hell did they come from?

4 comments:

C.F. Bear said...

I think the seventh ring of hell? What kind of duck are they? Do you have a bird field guide?

Pat said...

They're the quackin' kind.

Yes, I have a bird guide.

They're anas platyrhynchos.

Dan said...

Wood ducks? Mallards?

My best guess is that ducks, when returning back northward, will stop to hang out if they see open water below. I'm thinking they're not residents or even locals, and not there for very long.

Any chance you could tag one of them and test my theory?

Pat said...

Mallards.

And no, no ducks will be tagged, not by me anyway.

Heading north in February?

By the way, the lake did freeze again.