Well, it turns out that the trails are still covered in snow.

We tried hiking for about half a mile, trying to reach a lake, but we met some people on the trail who informed us that the lake was covered in six feet of snow.  So we walked back down.  Jon would like you to know that he was a very good sport, especially given that he was wearing hiking sandals and his feet became numb during the hike.

As we finished up the hike I thought, “Well at least I got some exercise.”  But then!  I heard a new bird sound.  In the stream were American Dippers, a new bird for me!

This guy has a much more pronounced line of dark feathers coming off of his eye than most pictures of American Dippers.  I guess it’s a regional variation?  Maybe he’s an Egyptian Dipper (you know, like Cleopatra).

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The American Dipper is the only aquatic songbird.  They’re like sparrows and chickadees, but they get all their food from the water.

American Dippers have a white nictating membrane.  For those unfamiliar, the nictating membrane is a third eyelid that birds use for flying to prevent debris from harming their eyes, for moisturizing the eye, for protecting against hungry babies striking their eyes during feedings and for finding food underwater without harming the eye.  Looks weird, hunh?  Like a Japanese horror movie.

These two dippers were performing a mating ritual.  First, spread your wings.

Then quiver frantically.

Now, twist!

They’re very captivating birds.  Go to your local streams now and find the dipper!  And, if you want to see adorable pictures of fledgling dippers, go to the Count Your Chicken blog.