It's Official: Spring Has Arrived...

My baby girl's cries awoke me early this morning as if she knew it was Wednesday morning, and the two of us would be venturing north on a pilgrimage to Chico Hot Springs for a morning swim.  Walking out to start the truck it was clear that winter is stubbornly attempting to stifle our celebration of spring.  On our way up to Chico the roads were wintery with a solid sheet of ice for the first 19 miles until we twisted our way through Yankee Jim Canyon.  By the time we reached Dome Mountain Ranch the road began to clear and with each mile under our belt, we were able to accelerate in pursuit of hot water.  

After a nice soak/swim with my little one who is fascinated by “wah, wah”, we loaded the truck and began our trip back home.  Traveling 55 mph on the road leaving the resort, a drab brown and white molted back of a bird roughly 9 inches tall caught my eye.  Though I naïvely predicted a return of spring on March 22^nd, winter returned with a vengeance here in Yellowstone Country over the course of the last seven days; leaving us yearning for a return of spring.  Since the weather hasn’t given us any pronouncement that spring has officially arrived, I have eagerly awaited a song that is perhaps the greatest single symbol that spring has finally returned to our region. 

Throwing the truck in reverse, I hit the accelerator and sped my way back to the fence post where my hopes now rested.  Luckily the bird hadn’t taken flight upon our arrival, and I was able to reach through all of the toys and baby clothes in the back seat and find my beat-up and well traveled binoculars.  With a quick lift to my eyes I glassed the bird perched on the green T-bar fence post and to my delight after a turn of my feathered friend’s head, I saw the yellow chest and the black v-shaped throat patch of the Western Meadowlark. 

Though sighting this symbol of spring gave me great excitement, we needed to hear the melodic song of the meadowlark before the new season could be official.  And within two minutes of idling in the middle of the northbound lane, my wish was granted and bringing joy to my little one, we listened in enchantment to the melody that signifies the return of spring. 

Driving south on our way home to Gardiner the sun began to shine high above the plateau of Mt. Everts and continued its ascent of Bunsen Peak.  The road that was treacherous just one hour earlier had now turned to a thoroughfare of slush.  The sunshine helped the temperature rise several degrees since our morning commute to Chico and with the song of the meadowlark it is official, spring has made its return to Yellowstone Country.  

~ Michael Leach, Director

Comments

[Leslie Patten]

Thank you Michael. Your writings are beautiful. Birdbirds have been coming around up here and looking for nest sites. I suppose that also heralds spring.
I would like to provide a link on my blog to yours with your permission.