After five days of oppressively hot and humid days, another danger has descended on central Minnesota this evening. Northeast winds have pushed smoke from wildfires in northern Minnesota and Ontario down to the Twin Cities. It came in quickly, like a fog, raising our air quality index from a 57 to 171 in a couple of hours. It sure puts the heat and humidity in perspective - a bit more manageable because at the very least the hot air was breathable. Widespread smoke on the other hand is just plain toxic.
While watching the smoke appear, I noticed a flock of birds in the dead tree above the wetland. In the poor contrast I noticed the bright colors of Baltimore Orioles.
Some of the birds seemed a bit agitated at something beneath them which helped me spot a young Barred Owl on the branch below.
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