Back in the dark ages, some cultures and civilizations used to name their years rather than number them. This year would probably be known as the Year of Tariffs and Political Chaos and Confusion, because it is hard to keep track of everything that is going on.

Now this article will be published in print on March 15 and we are well into March Madness. We are moving from the darkness of winter to the light of spring. If you look up SA国际影视传媒淵ellowknife sunrise and sunset,SA国际影视传媒� you will see a nice chart of our sunrises and sunsets. Today the sunrise is at 7:53 a.m. and it sets at 7:40 p.m. We are getting 6:03 minutes more daylight than yesterday which means in a week we gain over 42 minutes, which is noticeable. Also, our atmospheric twilight starts at 5:15 a.m. and ends at 10:17 p.m. Twilight is just as important as the sun because it also helps to define the day.

In the tropics, the sun sets and boom, a few minutes later it is dark. In the Far North, you can get twilight that lasts for much of the night. In summer, it never really gets dark. The extra daylight makes people more energetic and restless. It looks like spring is coming but the temperatures often feel like winter is still here, which contributes to the madness. In addition, we have March break, which means a lot of people go travelling or go outdoors.

If you are a keen observer of nature, you will see a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle changes going on. Critters that were hiding from the cold are now out and about more, especially during daylight hours SA国际影视传媒� squirrels, hares, foxes and wolves. Not only are the temperatures much milder during the day, but the sunlight penetrates through the snow and ice and stirs things there as well. That tends to wake things up more than people realize.

The great spring migration has also started and people have reported seeing snow buntings and owls, and soon the eagles will start to come back as the ptarmigan return to the barrens to nest. I like ptarmigans and think they should be listed as one of the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 favourite birds because they survive and thrive in tough conditions.

They stay out on the barrens until December and then migrate down into the treeline to feast on the seeds of the willow and birch trees. By the time they arrive, they have switched into their winter all-white plumage. They spend a few months here, then in March or April, with snow still on the ground, they fly back to the barrens to nest. These birds seem to love the snow.

I think the city should build a seven-foot-tall statue of a ptarmigan to show summer visitors what the birds look like. It would also be great for photo ops. I love watching the ptarmigan waddle around, often in small flocks, and they chortle as they go.

One spring, I was walking the Frame Lake Trail and I had a herd of maybe 20 birds waddling and chortling in front of me. I walked rather slow because I was certainly enjoying the stroll. It was spring so the female birds were starting to change their plumage to their summer camouflage.

In the spring, out on the barrens numerous times while out hiking, I have encountered them. The males, still mostly white, will do the old broken wing stunt to try to lure you away from the nest. Maybe we should declare a date for SA国际影视传媒淧tarmigan DaySA国际影视传媒� to celebrate them.

Or maybe someone could build a flock of remote-controlled ptarmigan, which would also be a tourist attraction.

So, when the tariff and political news gets you down, go for a walk and enjoy nature and the slowly-changing seasons. Take your time and enjoy the moment, and maybe seeing a ptarmigan or other birds will put a smile on your face.