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Phenology with local naturalist Larry Weber every Friday morning at 8:20 on Northland Morning.

Backyard Almanac: Quite cold, but maybe we've had the "January thaw"

American Goldfinch
WARREN BIELENBERG
/
Flickr
American Goldfinch

The week has had some of the coldest days this month, but Tuesday was unseasonably warm. Larry wonders if maybe that was the "January Thaw" that he sees happen every year. Despite the long nights, the clear skies allowed the full moon to shine on the fresh snow to make things very bright overnight.

In addition to the birds Larry usually sees at the feeder these days – the “same seven” (chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, white-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, and blue jays) – he was pleased to see several turkeys stop by. And finches, usually late arrivals at the feeders in winter, have returned; he saw seven goldfinches one day, and three redpolls yesterday. Owls will likely begin appearing in a couple weeks.

Chris Harwood is The North 1033’s Production Director and (acting) Program Director, a morning/daytime host, and the host of Soul Village. He is also a musician, a music historian, an audio engineer, and an avid record collector.