By BETSY BLOOM

Iron Mountain

Daily News

IRON MOUNTAIN —

Spring snow, not surprisingly, tends to drive the birds to the feeders, especially the early migrants back in the region. But the ice storm this week raised that reaction to a whole new level.

When I shoveled out to the grass level in the backyard and laid down black oil sunflower seeds, it quickly drew a whole host that didn’t want to dig for a meal.

I added extra seed under the hopper feeder as well and got a similar response.

The week saw fox sparrows, song sparrows, growing numbers of dark-eyed juncos and tons of pine siskens that had otherwise been absent throughout the very dull — bird-wise — winter. The flocks of American goldfinches that spent the winter appreciated what was provided, too, as did the tree sparrows, likely bound soon for the tundra where they nest.

The red-winged blackbirds that have been back for several weeks stayed despite the conditions, making frequent visits to the two types of suet offered. But the common grackle numbers visibly thinned.

This yearling fawn has white facial markings that identify it as one that had to be freed after getting caught along with its twin in a wooden picket fence at Six Mile Lake last June, when perhaps only a few weeks old. The marks are all that remains of the deep wounds the fawn had from an earlier incident.

While I saw robins, they favored sticking around trees that had fruit remaining, which we lack in our yard, the two small crabapple trees and clusters of chokecherries having been consumed long ago.

I did wonder about any woodcock that might have returned. Woodcock are among the earliest spring migrants, often coming back in March. But that makes them vulnerable if winter lingers on. Woodcock rely on being able to probe the ground with that long bill for worms and other food, which would be difficult with the combination of ice and snow. Another reason why I cleared several strips of open grass.

In addition, a study published in the journal Wildlife Biology in February 2020 titled “Inclement weather and American woodcock building collisions during spring migration” also pointed to evidence more woodcock hit buildings in Minneapolis during two early spring snowstorms.

Luckily, it appears this week’s ice storm was too early to down migrating common loons, as happened in April 2023. Loons forced to the ground by weather need open water to take off again, as they have legs too far back to walk or launch themselves into the air on land. So if they come down elsewhere, it could be a death sentence.

Most birds, however, should have been able to outlast the storms.

By last week, turkey vultures could be seen slowly gliding along with wings at their distinctive V. Sandhill cranes could be heard nearby at Six Mile Lake, along with Canada geese. The trumpeter swans come and go on the largest patch of open water on Six Mile Lake, where it feeds into Six Mile Creek.

Yet most of the lake remains locked in ice. That’s the usual pattern, though last year the lake was open by mid-March, earlier than anyone could remember. This year’s ice barely shows opening along the edges, much less signs of clearing anytime soon.

Still, as better conditions begin to assert themselves, the pace of spring migration should pick up.