My son and I went out around Stanwood this morning. SE of Stanwood in the
Stillaguamish valley on 36th Ave NW we saw an apple tree decorated with 22
Western Meadowlarks. An hour later at Big Ditch we saw a half dozen more.
These numbers are greater than I am used to.

On Thomle road there was a flock of about a thousand Red-winged Blackbirds,
with a few of the males displaying their bright red epaulets as they fed in
the grass. Spring must be just around the corner.

Dan Logen
Stanwood, Wa