Imminent spring

by YankeeJim | February 27, 2011 at 01:16 pm

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My brother is out this Sunday, hiking and birding. He has amassed an extraordinary collection of photographs of birds that live in Ohio in various seasons of the year. He has also created Etch-a-Sketch portraits of birds, many of which he has seen firsthand.

For instance, today he was hiking along the Olentangy River north of Columbus and discovered a bald eagle perched in the tall sycamore trees. The eagle almost seems to be shivering as it is 36 degrees and the banks are still snow covered.

Spring is near as temperatures may reach the 60’s this week, though nights are still near freezing. For humans it is hard to know what to wear to keep comfortable. For birds, they take what they are given and adjust naturally.

“Formed millions of years ago by the tremendous force of an underground river cutting through solid limestone rock, the Olentangy Indian Caverns today offer an exciting excursion into ancient Indian lore with a maze of beautiful winding passages and spacious underground rooms. There is evidence that the Wyandotte Indians used these caverns as a haven from the weather and from their enemies, the Delaware Indians. One of the large rooms contains "Council Rock", used by the Wyandotte's for tribal ceremonies.

The first white man believed to have entered the caverns was J. M. Adams, a member of a westbound wagon train that camped nearby in 1821. During the night one of his oxen broke loose and wandered off. In the morning the ox was found dead at the bottom of the entrance to the ancient Indian cavern. After exploring the entrance, Adams carved his name and date on the wall.”