BASKETS FOR BICYCLES

This image of a Mountain Bluebird (male) was captured in the Lake Laberge Hills about 30 km north of Whitehorse, Yukon in early April. This is the northern extent of their range in North America. They were frequenting small grassy patches in a very old burn area, where the snow had melted. The males have bright iridescent blue colours while the females have a plainer, tawny brown appearance. These guys can be challenging to photograph because they prefer open terrain, can see well and will not let you get very close. I sat still on the ground and hoped he would ignore me and come closer, which he eventually did. This is one of the first migratory birds to arrive in the Yukon and one of the last to leave for their wintering areas in the south-west U.S. through to central Mexico.

Bluebirds are members of the thrush family which includes robins. In my experience, as with several other species of migratory songbirds, I have been seeing noticeably fewer Bluebirds in recent years. They eat mostly insects, always a problem in the early spring when the temperature is near freezing and the ground is covered in snow as it has been the last few days. They likely try to find berries during these conditions to survive because I certainly did not see any insects.

Above the mountain
An eagle is flying
High above the mountain
An eagle comes down
To the soldier who faltered
The soldier on the ground

By the mountain
I feel nothing
For in my own heart
Every tree is broken

The first tree will not blossom
The second will not grow
And the third is almost fallen
Since you betrayed me so

Since you...