Miyoskamiw

the returning Sun casts its dim rays over a landscape of glistening snow molded into flowing patterns by winter gales the play of light and shadow creates rhythmic designs compelling in their simplicity and textures mephistopheles has left his warmer clime to appear molded in crystals of wondrous white horned lark venture early into this hushed world of frost and snow a dog coyote assesses the faint scent of tiny voles burrowing well below the crusted surface hardy buds on the twisted twigs of Aspen have not succumbed to the perishing cold of winter the Cree Indians of North America have an expression for the season following winter meows cim yux it is spring late winter snowstorms arrest the hesitant advance of spring throughout the quiet night the flakes had fallen on grey Brown branches smoothing sharp angles depositing a cover of new white moths the bear skeletons of winter twigs and branches our mantled with fragile crystals creating a fairyland of immaculate lace early spring is a silent world since few birds have yet returned insects are dormant and many small mammals are still in hibernation a snowshoe hare has passed this way ensuring the virgin snow the brown summer fur is beginning to show a rotting stump catches the Sun turning snow into tenuous wisps of vapor horn dolls preempt their nesting territories early migrant snowy owls will soon respond to a compulsive urge to return to their high Arctic breeding ground freed from the fetters of winter mule deer gamble in graceful abandon spring arrives at last in the land of the Arctic air here the season is short and Rock ptarmigan have already begun their courtship rituals the male approaches the female in full display is outer tail feathers black against the dazzling snow farther south taller grasses form patterns of gold against the sparkling crust having aroused from hibernation Richardson's ground squirrel tunnels to the surface along the margins of lake and pond melting ice wrought by wind and Sun form sculptures of sparkling crystal the thin layer of ice formed overnight breaks into interesting geometrical forms which mingle with the meltwater on its long journey to the sea suddenly the stillness is broken by the wild clamor of snow geese winging their way swiftly northward and who can forget the Clarion notes of Canada geese our grandest waterfowl the impressive sight of their serried ranks against a pearl gray sky lingers long in the mind's eye tired after the long flight the male Widgeon is in the full glory of his nuptial plumage the imprisoned waters have broken the icy bonds of winter and started downstream in the cool of the night freezing spray transforms lowly twigs into jewel encrusted works of art myriads of miniature wills converge swelling the waters of streams and rivers exchanging the silence and stillness of winter for the boisterous exuberance of various grain early crocus buds thrust upward to greet the strengthening Sun the ancestral dancing ground of the sharp-tailed grouse vibrates with the sound of courting males on the open water goldeneye Drake's attempt to win their dusky makes common eiders follow suit [Applause] the male would duck in full breeding plumage is surely the Beau Brummel of all our native waterfowl slim handsome pintails and stoner bodied canvasbacks have made their appearance too rich oriental carpets can scarcely match the splendor of lowly mosses flourishing in far northern regions warmed by the Sun insects emerge from winter dormancy the Muskrat has spent the long winter in frozen quarters seldom seeing the light of day now our grooming his lustrous fur in the warm sunshine he exudes a sense of well-being but older surface the surge of life is quickening Daphnia carry they're developing young in brood pouches the larvae of phantom midges have almost completed their growth delicate ephemeral fairy shrimps are active in the cool temporary pools of early spring [Music] [Music] all of a sudden the woods resound with mysterious miniature thunder [Music] the clock rough grouse his drumming while his mate is perched quietly in an aspen nearby in the presence of the him the swells out his upper breast and directs the bronze ruffs about his neck his tail is transformed into a magnificent barred fan as he struts majestically before in full courtship display this too is the season of territorial song wax burrows gold finches house wrens and Western meadowlarks pour forth their rich melodies chickadees are already pecking out their nesting cavities fish like the long nosed sucker ascend their home streams in order to lay and fertilize the eggs necessary for the next generation they are guided by minute amounts of material drifting down from the ancestral spawning ground [Music] prompted by the heat of the Sun shrubs and trees send forth their catkins and fresh young leaves for time the sombre woods stand in a mist of faintest green the pure notes of the rose-breasted grosbeak are unmistakable the buds of elderberry form compact clusters while the flowers of Manitoba maple are long and slender Mayo red-winged blackbirds are on territory early long-billed archers are on the move to northern breeding areas near Timberline the handsome blue grouse escorting his mate courting her with all the Magnificent finery at his command [Applause] the nests of mourning doves and other birds soon contain their compliments of eggs the bird's egg is a masterpiece of nature evolved over eons of time to house protect and nourish the embryo developing within the morning dog settles over her eggs supplying the heat necessary for the development of the chicks in the High Arctic Rock ptarmigan must be particularly attentive because of the extreme cold the tiny piping plover settles contentedly while her mate continues his courtship song overhead yellow headed black birds nest later fashioning their well constructed baskets among the reeds and cattails eared grebes dredge up dead and decaying vegetation with which to build their floating nest though greed spent most of their lives in water their dense well-oiled silky booming keeps their body warm and dry brilliant spring flowers and gorgeous butterflies at a wealth of color to the fresh green landscape winter is far behind iridescent flour beetles sample the tender petals the tussock caterpillar seeks out a place to spin his silken cocoon ants are busily checking their a fat colonies for droplets of sweet honeydew spot and coral root Springs anew nourished by decaying vegetation below dense choked cherry blossoms their promise of a rich harvest everywhere flowering plants are blooming producing the seeds of a new generations oxide daisies Sam doc scarlet mallow pincushion cactus sticky geranium and Cup leave the nominees many insects are attracted by the bright colors and remain to feed on the pollen and vector they often repay the plant by pollinating its flowers in order to survive insects like all other animals must select their mates from members of their own species the signals used in recognition may involve all the senses the beautiful parrot open moth completes its lifecycle early the adult emerging from its lacy cocoon in late spring the mod is expand and dry their pattern wings fluttering them in rapid bursts before entrusting their bodies to such fragile sails all of the vital processes of life must be completed mountain buttercups are veritable chalices of sunshine brightening the home range of colombian ground squirrels the red Indian paintbrush dipped in rich scarlet splashes brilliant color over cool mountain meadows the stately gaillardia is a true aristocrat of the world of wild flowers colorful cute chicks have hatched downy blue-winged teal golden redhead ducklings and western meadowlarks horned lark tsar busily tending their newly hatched broods in nests on the open prairie reproduction is closely related to levels of food supply insects are abundant in the burgeoning native grasses yellow warblers share in the riches newly hatched whistling swans are dressed to stand the chill of arctic winds and icy waters black swan' cigarettes are balls of smoky down sapsuckers are busily feeding throughout the day attended by the adults the Gosling's of Canada geese roam freely in search of food [Music] falou genus chicks are homebound for many weeks a new growth of life-sustaining plants at a time for the birth and development of young young Arctic hares are effectively camouflaged blending nicely with the tundra backdrop so are the chicks of Rock ptarmigan the Bobcat kitten will develop tooth and claw for capturing its plant eating prey the sight of a young fawn hidden away in the underbrush is a sight to remember in coastal regions the change of seasons is less apparent spring merges into summer as gallo Nima's disperses its countless numbers along our tide spec Coast [Applause] [Applause] the seasons must roll full circle before we can say again miss Camille it is spring [Music] [Music]