The +21C temperature yesterday melted the remaining ice and snow on a local pond.  Every morning I would see the geese and ducks standing atop the surface.  There was very little open water for them until today.  I drove by on the way home and the entire pond is open water and the waterfowl are happy.

That watering hole is a favorite spot for many species of ducks, geese, terns, gulls, etc.  On a calm summer night, the calls coming from there sound like Mother Nature's choir.  Now that the water is open, I'll be sure to stake that pond out on my next day off.  I've printed off a list of Alberta birds and want to see how many different species I can see on one visit.