First Big Snow in Twin Cities

This morning we woke up to the first big snowfall of the season in the Twin Cities. We were so happy to see the walkways in our education bird courtyard (Douglas Dayton Education Wing) were clear!  Thank you again to everyone who made this possible. 

Because each bird's housing was designed to have
access to the outside, that does mean that it
will get snow and rain. Each bird has a hutch
or other housing to keep them out of the elements,
but many of the birds wants to be in it!
Staff cleared off the perches and hutches,
and will do so during the course of the snow to come.
Pi the bald eagle greeted us at the door.

Gail Buhl shows us that the walkways for people are
clear in the new bird housing! What a change from
past years when we had to shovel and find
creative ways to "store" the snow until it melted.

Bubo the great horned owl did
not mind the snow. The great horned
owls are all vocalizing and demonstrating courtship
behavior at this time of year.
You can see the white throat patch
as Bubo hooted and called this morning.