I have to say, this winter in the Great PLains is not much of a winter so far. The temperature is more fall like than winter, for now at least. I have to remind myself that this is still early winter and that the cold might not hit hard until February. I don't want to think about it too much since this time period goes fast and come March I will be looking at things like Greater Sage Grouse leks and early migration. I did learn something new recently, since birds are not heavy in my background compared to plants and reptiles. The Red Crossbills I saw during one of my winter surveys, they will next in late winter, so they could be nesting right now. I know some raptor and owl species will nest in winter but did not know there were song birds that did, too. I have plenty more to learn about birds it seems.

Aside from winter bird surveys, everything is just preparing for the coming Spring/Summer field work that I will have plenty of from the sounds of it. Not the most exciting time for field work but the data clean up and reports are slowly getting done. They less glamorous parts of the job like staring at spreadsheets and making maps. I'll admit I am ready for the busy field season to return despite this past year being more burn out for me that it should have been.