woodmort
RIP 1938-2020
- Jul 6, 2010
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We finally got enough Lake Effect Snow to accumulate last night so there was about an inch or so on the ramp when I let the girls out this morning. Normally they come charging out as soon as I open the pop door because I dump 24 hrs of accumulated kitchen scraps at the bottom of the ramp. This morning, however, the first ones out hit the snow and stopped. This created a humongous chicken jam. These first birds tentatively stepped in the snow and, after much consternation, went down the ramp, allowing those behind to sample this new event, but the process was slow. Normally by the time I go around to the people door and begin my morning chores of filling the water and feeders and collecting eggs the coop empties. Not this morning. Some birds did not go out at all and most that went out returned, milled around underfoot, then went back out. All the time they collected in little groups and there was much discussion about what this new phenomenon might be. There was a constant "baaawk", that low, drawn out, soft sound that they make when they're discussing things. (I actually think they use that sound to cover up their whispers so we humans can't figure out what's going on.) It was a riot to listen to them. I suspect they were saying "Oh cripe, now we're gonna have to put up with this for the next 6 months."--same as the rest of us do. Of course the sun came out and, eventually, the snow melted so things were right in their world again for a little while at least.