It’s been an interesting couple of days since I lasted posted. After the nice southerly winds over the weekend, that changed and the pleasant weather left. It was back to northerly winds, cold temps, rain, and even a few snow flurries today. Yuck!
Yesterday, I sat around waiting for the arrival of the DISH technician. You see, since I got the new automatic satellite receiver installed on the roof, and I do have an HD TV, I decided to upgrade to an HD receiver. It didn’t cost me anything for the DISH technician to come out, and was a wash as far as my monthly bill was concerned to get the upgrade. It seemed like an easy switch out for both the technician and myself. I figured it would just take minutes to do. So did he.
That is until he told me he had to have access to the back of the TV. 
Eventually, he detached the panel on the side with a gazillion wires attached to it that operates both slides, the water heater, generator, inverter, and other things. I had to hold that up in the air as he inserted my tick-finding mirror so he could see the back of the TV. Mostly by feel, he was able to insert the cable for the HD option. I won’t go into the other problems we encountered, but suffice it to say, that this easy trade out took almost three hours. It was successful finally, and I can now enjoy the splendor of HD TV.
Today, we had over 100 third graders coming for their spring environmental program on the refuge, and the temps were in the low 30’s as we began. Most of these kids were not properly prepared for these temperatures, and they along with I, were freezing. I had lots of layers on, but with a cold wind it was not pleasant.
I was working the Bio-Blitz station. That involved 45 minutes with each group as they tried to identify at least five different tree species. I didn’t do my best with the first group as this was new to me, and I’m no whiz at tree identification. By the second group, I was ‘in the groove’, and really enjoyed the rest of the time. I had a lot of fun with those kids, and identifying Burrrrr Oaks, and Quaaaking Aspens seemed to be appropriate since out teeth were chattering. 
They all, gratefully, piled back on their buses around 2:00, and I was free to warm up until a 3:30 meeting. I decided to put the heater on full blast in my car, and take a slow route back to headquarters. Even though there was some snow spitting, I decided to do the Blackbird Auto Tour Route to see what I could see.
I think that the bird migration north has been slowed a bit by all the northerly winds this year. There are lots of yellow-rumped warblers around, but they are among the first warblers to arrive. May 15th should be the height of warbler migration in this neck of the woods, but unless the winds change, I don’t see that happening by tomorrow… and the winds aren’t predicted to change by then.
I also found flocks and flocks of palm warblers this afternoon. Both of these warblers are really only here as a stop off point as they make their way further north. Very few of our nesting warblers have arrived as yet. Tomorrow begins the Festival of Birds for Detroit Lakes, and all of us will be busy through the weekend welcoming birders and supporting many activities and tours. Slightly balmier conditions would sure be appreciated.
Time to find a roost for the night…
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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