If you haven’t been down to the Museum’s Wetlands lately you should make a point of doing so. As I’ve mentioned several times in the last few weeks, the merganser numbers have increased. I’ve not seen as many of these magnificently plumaged birds in our Wetlands in the past 7 years. And, they’re putting on quite a show.

Pair bond displays are taking center stage out on the water. Sounds of splashing water and the rolling, croaking, frog-like calls of the birds fill the air as the male birds swim about trying their best to draw attention to themselves in the name of procreation.

For those interested in owls, there have been two snowy owl reports in North Carolina so far this year, in the past week in fact. One was reported in Caswell County close to the Virginia border, north of Yanceyville and just southeast of Danville, VA. It was not found again after the initial report. Another snowy was found dead on the Route #94 bridge which crosses Albemarle Sound in the eastern part the state.

By the end of last winter there had been more than 10 reports of these large, tundra loving white owls in North Carolina, hundreds reported across the eastern states. I doubt that will happen again.

It’s a far-fetched hope to see a snowy owl here at the Museum, but one can dream, can’t one.