spring is coming

[billy rubin]

winter is one-third over.

it's cold, orion is still way high up in the pre-dawn at 41 degrees north. but there are only 90 days before the peepers. i'm lucky enough to have two or three major choruses within earshot. here's what they'll sound like:

[Tank]

Link not accessible in UK.

[jumbojak]

We had spring last week. Winter came back and we'll probably be roasting by Valentine's Day.

[xSilverPhinx]

I'm melting here waiting for winter...

[Tank]

Light to 5pm 'ish here in the UK.

[billy rubin]

5 or 6 C around here

very different from the -21 C i remember in january not so long ago

[Bad Penny II]

I'm melting here waiting for winter...

The months ticked over and the ones associated with Spring came but they did no renewal.
Maybe they will this year or maybe not.

[xSilverPhinx]

I'm melting here waiting for winter...

The months ticked over and the ones associated with Spring came but they did no renewal.
Maybe they will this year or maybe not.

Over here Spring was basically indistinguishable from Summer. If a season could have an identity crisis, that would be it.

[billy rubin]

theyre out.

spring has hit. the peepers came out at dusk two nights back, juzt before first quarter.

Pseudacris crucifer, or Hyla crucifer if youre old.

theyre the firzt amphibians to come out in the eaztern united statez. i never heard them for most of my life, az i was elsewhere. but here in appalachia they mark the calendar for me just before the vernal equi nox.

most yearz they holler down the hill from me in smaller groups along the exge of the creek that cuts the low road to town. but in a good year theyll build a chorus together that thunders between the short bluffs on either side, so loud that you have to shout to be heard by someone standing close enough to touch. amazing. individually theyre small enough to sit on a dime, or a sixpence if you remember that far back.

therez still ice on the ztream edgez and in tbe puddles, but theat doesnt sliw them down.

ill get a recording as soon as theres a bunch together

[billy rubin]

this was in broad daylight-- just a few peepers, maybe five or six, and some sort of cricket frog. this is an old oil well that has a containment berm around it filled with water and some cattails. i was waiting to leave an injection well after unloading and heard these off about 50 yards from the apron.

i walked up to them, and then when i got close they spotted me and shut up. at least, all th epeepers did. the cricket frog was oblivious

midday calling is really uniusual

[No one]

Live where it's never winter, problem solved.

[billy rubin]

the other sign of spring is that my lovely wife buys chickens

[Buddy]

Oh my gosh those chicks are so cute! What kind are they?

[billy rubin]

something called welsummer, she says

never heard of them

all the was available this early, straight run unsexed

[Harmonie]

Why would anyone point out something so dreadful in January? =/

Screw Spring. It already got up to 94 the other day. It's not even April. Spring is a lie.