Have you ever heard of S.A.D.? Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depression (Mayo Clinic Link) most common as the amount of daylight shortens as winter approaches. In much of America this summer, the disorder should be renamed to Smoke Affective Disorder. If you’ve looked up in the sky almost anywhere in the United States or Canada, blue skies are extremely rare as smoke fills the skies from forest fires.
When I got up this morning it was dark at sunrise. An hour later it was still dark. I hate all this wildfire smoke. The forest fire season started early this year due to the drought, and will likely last till the fall rains come in September. Ugh. Do you have S.A.D.? I certainly do.
Regardless, I did go birding around 10 am this morning … very late for me. Stopping at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth, I was pleased to find three green herons hunting the pond with islands. I suspect there is a nest tucked into the willow trees on the island. Even with S.A.D., I had fun!
Some notes:
- I’ll be offline for about one week. Was thrilled to learn some heart surgery was moved up 1.5 months to Thursday. I am doing fine, but still have issues related to my new heart valve. Not in any danger.
- Yogi continues to attack my bird feeders. I am stubborn in keeping them up all summer long. The latest attacked was at 3:30 am two night ago. Heard and then saw Yogi. He is BIG!
- The Great Horned Owl chicks start begging every night about 9:15 pm. Occasionally they visit my yard. Have not been able to find their daytime perching spot. If you live in Duluth Lakeside and hear night time screeching look up to the tops of the trees. You may see an owl silhouetted against the sky.
- The second Red-Headed Woodpecker nest ever found in Duluth (any year) was successful!
- There are some Chukars running around Duluth Lakeside. As these birds would be crazy out of range, must be escapees from a game farm, . Tend to be found around 46th Avenue East.
