Happy New Year!

Snowy Owl by John James Audubon

Snowy Owls in Chicago

Photo: Chicago Tonight

There is an “invasion” of snowy owls in Chicago this winter. Check out the Chicago Tonight map of recent snowy owl sightings: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/12/18/map-snowy-owl-sightings-chicago-area

Yorkshire Wassail

We've been a-while a-wandering
Amongst the leaves so green.
But now we come a wassailing
So plainly to be seen,

For it's Christmas time, when we travel far and near;
May God bless you and send you a happy New Year.

Red-bellied woodpecker

A red-bellied woodpecker on our feeder today: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-bellied-woodpecker

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Icy Lake Michigan

Ice on the lakeside at La Rabida Children's Hospital this evening.

Photos: Marge Ishmael

Nature Conservancy in Chicago

Video of nature conservancy stewarding in my local park:
https://www.facebook.com/thenatureconservancy/videos/vb.8057376739/10155944632281740/?type=2&theater

Jackson Park, Chicago

Ice Hockey - most demanding team sport

Hockey players are the toughest. Study says that only boxing is more demanding than ice hockey. A recent ESPN study concluded that ice hockey is the most demanding team sport in the world.... Boxing weighed in with a top mark of 72.375 but right behind was hockey at 71.750.

 

Snowy woods of N.W. Indiana

Spending the weekend in the snowy woods of Northwest Indiana.

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Meanwhile, the world burns!

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers clashed today with some demonstrators burning American flags and posters of President Trump a day after he sided with Israel by announcing U.S. support of Jerusalem as its capital.

Wexford Carol

Wexford Carol is a popular Irish Christmas song dating back to the 12th century…so you could say it has stood the test of time.  I particularly like this version of it. 

 

Santa Ana winds

Ferocious Santa Ana winds in Southern California have whipped up explosive wildfires.
https://twitter.com/WLV_investor/status/938410022538682368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2017%2Fdec%2F06%2Flos-angeles-california-fire-interstate-405 

Oceans under the greatest threat

"It is now clear our actions are having a significant impact on the world's oceans. (They) are under threat now as never before in human history." - David Attenborough  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/05/oceans-under-greatest-threat-in-history-warns-sir-david-attenborough