What the Murph?

Comparing the striking similarities at the active weather set Friday morning

Friday, July 12, 2013, 10:29 AM -

One of Manitoba's biggest festivals is underway in the capital, and there is a peculiar guest who already has her seat reserved.

Until Sunday July 14th the Winnipeg Folk Festival is underway at Birds Hill Park where thousands are expected to take in the music and fun atmosphere. If you plan on attending you are being reminded to bring lots of water, sunscreen and to please mind the fence smack dab in the middle of the festival grounds ... it's there for a special reason.

It appears that a Killdeer hen has built a nest there and organizers don't want to see the little family get trampled. So far so good at the time of this writing...and this "bewildered" looking bird got me thinking about how much it .. .and me ... have in common.

Let's begin with the obvious - we both like to be the centre of attention. Momma hen is laying eggs in the prime seats of the festival whereas I - ahem - occasionally lay an egg of a forecast during prime time morning hours.

As I dig deeper though, the similarities really get unnerving. For example, Killdeer spend their time walking along the ground or running ahead a few steps, stopping to look around, and running on again. I can often be found doing the very same thing in between live reports here at The Weather Network.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Killdeer are "graceful plovers common to lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, parking lots as well as sandbars and mudflats."

Aside from the whole sandbars and mudflats, this sounds much like my resume.

As for appearance ... I think the picture included speaks for itself.

There is one rather peculiar characteristic that I would like to strongly emphasize we do not share.

Again I am quoting the Cornell Lab here... but it appears that the Killdeer "bright orange-buff rump is conspicuous in flight."

Let's call us fraternal, if not identical, twins then.

Enjoy your summer!