A spark of yellow and there he was.  The Northern Flicker in flight ... FINALLY returning "home" to roost.  I am trying to remember if I was that excited when my kids came home during college breaks.  Let's just say I can't remember and leave it at that.

I had cleaned the owl houses in preparation for the Flicker's return in October (as had been his pattern).  He didn't show.  When he suddenly appeared on the 1st of February, it was as if he brought life back to the landscape.  On February 2, the resident birds began checking out nesting sites and today there are already two nests under construction.