Happy Memorial Day Weekend from the Northstar Nerd (i.e. me … a nickname I have had for a really long time). Anyhoo … I decided to play around with my new toy / drone, which I will never use near birds, but is still fun in the right circumstances! What could be better than visiting a small Northwoods cabin on this All American Holiday Weekend?! Thus, here is my first ever Northstar Lake Cabin Wine Walk About (video link for email subscribers)

Oh yes … I focus upon birds, and my oh my have the songbirds returned in the past few days up here near Canada on the Hudson Bay Watershed in northern Minnesota. I have decided to feature the Baltimore Orioles which returned today. I heard nary an oriole yesterday, but are they ever singing in my yard today.

Northstar Lake Baltimore Orioles (male then female)

And an Osprey at Sunrise

Finally, let’s remember the reason for this weekend … all the men and women who have served our country, and some paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. I heard this person tell here story yesterday while out birding. It is worth a listen, and our thanks. Please, please listen to Army Major Carol Kirk, a Vietnam War Nurse. Browse to the Story Corps web site and her story.

I also have embedded the story in my post, but there is additional information about the Major on the Story Corps website. I had teary eyes after listening to her. They don’t mention when she tells her Vietnam story, that her own Dad died during World War II and her Uncle was killed in Korean War.

My Dad was a doctor who served during the Korean War. His hospital was a cave 400 yards from the front lines, and he took care / operating upon marine rifleman … many who died on the operating table. Dad hated war.