The nuclear generating plant upstream from the swan viewing area keeps the water in the Mississippi River open year round. About 20 years ago, Sheila, an elderly lady who lives along the river, started feeding about a dozen swans that hung out in the open water. Every year the population grew. Now she feeds approximately 1,500 trumpeters plus mallards and Canadian geese. It must be a labor of love as she spends about $650 on corn every week. Each day from November through March she walks down to the riverbank and distributes the corn. Watching the birds flock around her during feeding time is quite a sight to see and the noise is deafening. Trumpeters do trumpet. It sounded like 1,500 car horns going off simultaneously. Seeing these 25 – 35 lb birds flying overhead was awe inspiring. They are pure white and so graceful in flight. Groups of two or more flew overhead continuously for about two hours heading for Sheila's corn. About mid-April will be nest building time and the swans will start to spread out.

On the way home we drove through Carlos Avery Game Refuge to try to see the short-eared owls that winter there. A friend told us that they hang out on Pool 9 road and come out right before sunset. Along with about half a dozen other photographers we sat along side the open meadow waiting for the evening show. We were not disappointed. Just before sunset, six short-eared owls rose from the grassy meadow where they had spent the day resting. They worked the meadow in front of us searching for mice and voles. They must have caught half a dozen in the short time we watched. They are fast flyers and would chase each other on several occasions. They did some pretty fabulous acrobatics trying to out maneuver each other. We watched the owls until the bright red sun went below the horizon. It was a pretty nice day.

Paul & Karla

It was beautiful seeing the ice covered falls but the sounds were even more incredible. After taking these photos I had to sit for a while and listen to the moving water under the ice. The crowds were gone and the wind had gone down creating an eerie quiet in the river gorge. The gurgling water tumbled over the rocks creating sounds that would be difficult to describe. They seemed to echo off of the canyon walls surrounding you in stereo.

Paul & Karla

Pileated Woodpeckers make a new nesting cavity each spring. They never use it again for nesting but lots of other critters do. Many species depend on the woodpecker’s cavities for a place to escape the winter’s cold. A fellow photographer had once told me that he used to film owls, flying squirrels and ducks as they looked out from these cavities. I ask him how he got them to look out. He said to take a stick in each hand and scratch on both sides of the tree moving higher each time you scratch. Whatever is in the cavity thinks that a predator is climbing the tree and will look out.

Steve and I decided to try it. Neither of us thought it would work but I told Steve to get ready with his camera while I scratched. I didn’t get four feet up the tree before I heard his camera clicking continuously. I looked up and saw flying squirrels scrambling out of all three cavities. There must have been a dozen in all. I got my spotting scope and set up the camera while Steve tried the scratching. Not all of them looked out the second time but at one point we saw six little heads sticking out of one hole. Since flying squirrels are nocturnal or only come out at night it was a rare sighting to see this many at one time. Flying squirrels are the cutest things. In the attached photo each one seems to show its own personality as they look down at Steve. If you look closely you can see the tree line reflected in their very large eyes.

At this point we didn’t mind that we didn’t see any lynx.

Paul & Karla

One place that has snow is the Gunflint Trail and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We spent the afternoon enjoying that snow on New Year's Day. Karla and I drove up the Gunflint looking for moose. In Grand Marais the big lake was open with the waves lapping the shore. As soon as we crested the hill above town the landscape exploded in white. Due to the warm temperatures on New Year's Eve, the snow clung to every branch. Not only the snow but the earlier rain froze on the branches leaving small little icicles on the tips of each branch that glistened in the sun.

As we turned each corner we were graced with one scene after another that reminded us of what winter in the northland should look like. At mid trail we took some of the side roads to Hungry Jack and Clearwater Lakes. Climbing to the top of Honeymoon Bluff we could look over the winter landscape and into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It was the most peaceful scene. Ridge after ridge of snow covered trees. I was just getting ready to leave when I heard what sounded like dog teams below the high rocky outcropping on which I was standing. Three five dog teams were crossing snow covered Hungry Jack Lake. The pace of the dogs seemed effortless as they flew across one bay after another. I have never experienced dog sledding but it looks like a lot of fun. You could hear the dogs' excitement as they were doing what they love, running.

As we worked our way back to Grand Marais we stopped many times to take in the scenery and capture pictures of some of the best scenes. The lake photo attached was taken at 1:30 PM. Notice at how long the shadows are. The sun never gets very high this time of year.

We saw tracks but never saw the moose we were hoping to see. Neither of us complained. Not when we got to see the fabulous winter scenery that the Superior National Forest had to offer.

Paul & Karla