Spring. I'm calling it.

I was woken this morning by an aggressive robin singing outside at the top of a roofline.  He was full-force into his territory song, which I hadn't heard until now, so I'm calling it.  It's officially spring in lower Michigan.  We might still get some cold weather, but it's spring, damn it, and that's all I'm saying about it.

My bird station with its running water/bird bath and food has seen more action in the last two weeks than the entire winter months combined.  The goldfinches, especially, have enjoyed the seed since their food supply is at its lowest point right now.  I'm delighted.  I don't just stick a feeder into the ground and hope they come.  From the ten yards of dirt, to the new red-twig dogwoods you see in the photo, to the stone wall you can't see holding the earth back from the sidewalk, the 6 by 18 ft area was designed with birds in mind.  I've got to put in a few small evergreens before I call it done, but that's for when the ground can be worked.  It's too wet right now, and most of the nurseries in the area are not ready.

The deer, too, are coming out onto the golf courses to snack on the new grass.  I saw a good dozen of them last night about dusk when I went on an ink run.  ( I could have sworn I bought another cartridge two weeks ago . . .)

I think I'm going to add the sound of a printer running smoothly to my list of favorite things to hear besides robins in the spring.  :-)