Iowa in Winter: It's for the Birds

Life in Iowa is "for the birds" this time of year. Either you watch them or kill them [duck hunting]. The bird in flight (above) is an immature eagle. The turkey vultures have flown south because most carrion is in cold storage now. (I understand that when they flew out they were limited to one personal item and one carrion.) Bald eagles can't take the Canadian winters, so they come down for winter holiday on the western shore of the Mississippi River (below) in southeastern Iowa. (Where even Canadians are welcome. I guess Iowa doesn't have a hockey team or something.) Our sunrises are punctuated by gunfire at official sunrise. It's a little surreal. Like I imagine living in a country next door to the United States must be. Just the way I like it. Back to work—In Iowa.

TIM MALM, RIPTIDE IOWA BUREAU