[obol] Gulls and Caspian Terns

[Norgren Family]

     I recall some announcements last
Fall about El Nino being in progress.
Weak, normal, I don't recall the putative
intensity. I haven't heard anything for
awhile. But I did see a Caspian Tern on
the Multnomah Channel at Sauvie Island
on March 10 back sometime in the early 90s.
That was a strong El Nino year. Heerman's
Gulls showed up a month early and in numbers
that year.
     So far I haven't even seen a Tree Swallow
despite some dedicated effort. I cleaned and
filled the hummingbird feeders two weeks ago,
which was a month ahead of their average return
date for our house. Perhaps a good way to jinx
the place. The Indian Plum bushes along the
driveway just started to leaf out. That's a
month behind average. They should be flowering
by now.  Lars Norgren Manning Oregon