The Bible assures us in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun. I beg to differ and concur, as usual, with the more nuanced view of Ambrose Bierce, sultan of snark and author of The Devil’s Dictionary. In Bierce’s view, “There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know.” Who could disagree? After all, I’m sure North America has suffered under the tyrannical grip of a polar vortex before, even though the term seems new to me, just as we survived last year’s Snowpocalypse and Sharknado. Just because we’re coining neologisms to describe this evil inclement weather doesn’t mean we’re entering a new Ice Age, does it? An Ice Age isn’t exactly new either, but I don’t want to know it firsthand!

Considering how painfully cold my part of the world is, I’m watching birds from my window this weekend. Corey is cleaning up at the spectacular Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, which is probably where a number of our readers can be found.  Taking in Neotropical migrants in tropical climes is one of the all-time best ways to escape a polar vortex, right?

How about you? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.

Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.