The temperature rose steadily yesterday as I left Duluth (50 degrees) and first went up the hill to Spirit Mountain (60) and then on southward to Hinckley (72) and the Twin Cities (82). I'm staying with Ken and Sharon Nichols, and Ken and I are headed out to look at birds now. Keep your fingers crossed! I want to see swans so bad I could taste it. Tonight I'll be speaking at Quarry Hills Nature Center, to the Zumbro Valley Audubon, about 101 Ways to Help Birds.