We remember being confused in January when it was 40F. Now, in mid-April, we're even more confounded by several inches of heavy wet snow. There are more Juncos at the edge of the woods -- probably the ones that wintered here as well as some on their way from southern Minnesota back up north where they usually nest. I put out a plate of seed for them to eat heartily on their way. One of them seemed to have a white tail, rather than the typical long dark one. Looking closely, it seems to be missing those dark feathers and we are seeing only the white rectrices (Latin for "helmsman"). This bird may have trouble migrating without all his tail feathers which help the bird to brake and steer in flight.
