Wandering along the South Saskatchewan river in downtown Saskatoon today revealed a wealth of springtime joys. Although the birds are preparing for another season of fertilizing, laying, hatching and fledging another generation they are well behind the river ice. Here you see the birth of brand new, albeit fleeting droplets of blue ice bulbs perfectly formed and huddled together protecting each other from the warm spring breeze. Somewhere in the back of my memory I recall my mother putting ‘bluing’ into the wash water on the Monday morning clothes washing adventure. The blue does give these droplets an immaculately clean look.

The Mallards are sprucing up their iridescence genes and getting ready to impress a local female.

Being somewhat more subtle this female is limiting her iridescent patch to a gorgeous blue wing adornment emphasized by the bounding white accent feathers.

This pair of Canada Geese has just ensured another successful fertilized clutch of eggs.

The much maligned Rock Pigeon has manoeuvred perfectly into the sun beam to give an enviable iridescence to the feathers.

It almost appeared to be showing me the other side to ensure I was impressed with both sides of the neck.

Not to be outdone the Black-billed Magpies were foraging in the sun and displayed some magnificent colours when the sun hit the feathers at just the correct angle.

Please do yourself a favour and go outside and wander to see what nature has to teach us.