Signs of Spring

Washburn's Outdoor Journal / March 10, 2021

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.

Nearly everyone has a favorite sign that says spring is on the way. It might be melting snow drifts, a noisy echelon of northbound geese, or the sighting of the season’s first robin. This year, I’m adding chipmunks to the list. That’s right, I said chipmunks.

I know, of course, that chipmunks are still supposed to be deep into hibernation, sound asleep in their cozy underground dens. But I also know of one chippie that isn’t. I could scarcely believe my eyes when, early Sunday morning, I spotted the little striper scampering atop what was left of North Iowa’s rapidly receding winter snow cover.

To say that seeing a chipmunk running around in slushy snow at 34 degrees on March 7^th is a bit out of the ordinary doesn’t quite cover it. Not only have I never seen such a thing; I’ve never even heard of it. Exactly what prompted the little munchster to come out of its slumber is hard to say. What I would suggest, however, is that the chipmunk goes back to bed until it hears the sound of April showers.

Lowell Washburn

About The Author

Lowell Washburn

Born in North Central Iowa, Lowell Washburn has enjoyed a lifelong interest in the out of doors. He began photographing wild birds at age 10, and outdoor photography soon became his passion and eventually a career. Washburn is best known for images that portray migratory waterfowl and other wetland wildlife in their natural habitats. His best photographs are often obtained after spending hours floating amid natural marshlands, half submerged within the dark confines of a floating muskrat house blind. Upon completing military service as a sergeant with the Fourth Infantry Division in the central highlands of South Vietnam, Washburn returned to Iowa in 1970. His wildlife photos began appearing in Iowa newspapers in 1971 and he began authoring outdoor news columns in 1978. Today, his photos and writing have appeared in over 50 national and international magazines including Outdoor Life, International Wildlife, Field&Stream, Ducks Unlimited, Pointing Dog Journal, the NAFA Journal, and others. After working as a naturalist for Iowa’s county conservation board system, Washburn was recruited by the Department of Natural Resources in 1984. His primary duties included statewide communication with Iowa newspaper, television, and radio news agencies with a primary goal of increasing the level of public awareness and appreciation for Iowa's natural resources. During his tenure he also served as staff member for the Iowa Conservationist Magazine and for the DNR’s Iowa Outdoors Magazine. Washburn retired from the DNR in 2010. In addition to wildlife photography, his ongoing outdoor passions include falconry, traditional bow hunting, waterfowling, spending time with hunting dogs of all types, and herpetology.