MMeM, Vol.12 Issue 50 – Solsticesesss ‘n stuff

Migratory birds. I’ve never understood, not even in the simplest of concepts the behavior and life of migratory birds. I can’t find my car coming out of a freaking strip mall and you mean to tell me that these chirping, honking, flapping, and seemingly drunkenly wobbling birds fly thousands of miles multiple times a year for the summer and winter?

Oh sure, I’ve heard the stories about banded birds showing up yonder and back again, or tracker laiden birds revealing their supposed paths. I’m sorry, but I’m still a skeptic.

Take this group of geese I saw last night.

It is frigid here in Central Illinois and here is a big old group of Canadian Geese just poopin’ it up in a patch of grass amongst the same strip mall in which I’d just lost my car. My first thought was, “Hey BIRDS, aren’t you supposed to be SOUTH for the winter?” (Stupid birds)

Oh, yeah, well the joke’s once again on ME. The official first day of winter is TODAY. The Winter Solstice of 2016 is December 21st. So, the “stupid” birds as I so ignorantly referred to them were, in fact, ahead of schedule.

I’m so STUPID. STUPID!

Well, look at me, I’m the Farmer’s Almanac I’ve been around since 1792 with my winter solstice and stuff. Well LAH-TEE-DAH!