Although we have had another dump of snow this week, it has melted quickly except in the most boggy areas of the bog - that refrigerator effect of bogs again.

But both before and after, we have been hearing the frenzied 'cheeseburger' call of the male chickadees, anxious for spring and mating.

Although it's still January, the pre-signs of spring are there. The shrubs and trees are sporting buds that will remain tightly closed until the light and the temperature are right. 

This week, just before the snow, when the sky was clear and cold, I saw an eagle circling behind the Nature House.  We have a marvellous photographer, Virginia Hayes, who comes and takes pictures of birds in the Park and who has donated cards of her work for us to sell in the gift shop. They really are the most spectacular photographs.

Yesterday the school programs started again. We have great indoor programs in the winter, and I love the winter, but in spite of both of those things, I too long for the spring so that we can take children out on the trails again. 

Like everyone else, our outdoor activities have been limited by the amount of snow that has fallen since mid-December. Over the Christmas period, it has been a challenge to walk the trails and I have certainly wished I had snow shoes at times.

The bird feeding area has been madly popular, the birds have been feeding crazily - even taking risks. At the weekend, Rich noticed that chickadees were even popping in to take food when the Hawk was sitting nearby. The squirrels have no fear at all, they will feed long and boldly right under the - well, eagle-eye of the hawk ;)

It is magical to see how much the landscape of the Park changes when blanketed in snow. Sometimes, it's difficult to even see where the trails start and end. The numerous animal tracks are no help at all - they come out of the forest and disappear back in, coyotes, raccons, squirrels, even tracks that look like rabbit's prints. 

Earlier this morning, we were startled by the sound as of thunder, but it was a huge raft of snow falling off the roof of the Nature House. 

You might think that far from being deep into winter, spring had arrived, I heard several chickadees gamely calling out their 'cheeseburger' song, in the hopes that a mate will come and warm them up!