January 10, 2025

Our first snowstorm of the new year started yesterday and continues this morning.  The kids have come a long way since their first snowstorm 2 years ago.   Zena had moved tenuously through the flakes giving them their sniff evaluation before finally deciding they were ok to play in.  Loki missed that storm, and this was his first real opportunity to snuffle.  We let them outside as the flakes were coming down yesterday.  Zena immediately went on patrol prancing up and down the perimeter of the fence.  Loki was more discriminating.  Sensing “something” beneath the inches of snow he began to snuffle and dig.  This morning brought on the “zummies”.  Both dogs raced through the snow, only stopping long enough to get into a quick fight before getting back to zooming.  Since it is below freezing (32F or 0C) I did not keep them outside too long.  I also felt obligated to stand and watch to see how they were doing.  That probably limited their time, as I get cold fast.

When I looked online, I found the snowstorm that moved through Arkansas overnight dumped nearly 15 inches (38 cm) of snow in some parts of Arkansas, roughly 8 inches (20 cm) across the Little Rock metro area, and 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm) in the areas around my town, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock.  We average around 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snow annually.  Entergy reported 8,496 customers without power as of 7:30 am, with most outages in southwest Arkansas.  The Electric Cooperative of Arkansas reported 5,390 customers without power.  Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field (east of Little Rock) reported there had been 36 flight cancellations as of 8:30 am Friday.  Airlines are challenged by deicing planes in the snowfall, delaying morning departures.  Airfield crews worked all night and into the morning to plow and sweep the snow from the main runway, taxiways, and air carrier ramp, airport spokesman Shane Carter said in Friday’s news release.  Other parts of north-central Arkansas are expected to receive 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30.5 cm) and Northern Arkansas is forecast for 5 to 7 inches (13 to 18 cm) of snow, and some in the area could get more.  We still have flurries expected to last until the afternoon. 

Another reason to let the kids out in the snowstorm this morning is the combined group of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), and a few brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) that descended.  I do not mind feeding these birds, but when they descend, they quickly devour everything and drive the smaller passerines off by their presence.  The blackbirds are skittish and just letting the kids into the yard makes them retreat to the surrounding trees.  The smaller birds return despite the kids’ presence.  Collectively, blackbirds may be described as a “murder” when they are seen flying together or perched on a tree branch.  A “cloud” is a poetic term used as they fly together in formation.  A “merle” is an older term used to describe the group as they forage for food on the ground while a “colony” is used to describe a group nesting together.  Finally, a “congregation” is used to describe a group of blackbirds gathered in one area.  The different names indicate the level of human interest in their various activities.

Thoughts: As the snowstorm winds down, I begin to reflect on getting out.  Tad Sours, director of communications for Washington County said, “All that we really ask from the public is if you don’t have to get out in it, don’t . . . give plenty of room to our road crews.”  Still, I did not make the pre-snowstorm dash for milk, bread, and toilet paper like most of the area’s residents.  Global warming means extremes of both heat and cold, and opposite events at the same time (like a snowstorm and wildfire).  Make a difference NOW, not later.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.