Nick here. On my morning walks along the aqueduct connecting Lake Harriet and Minnehaha Creek, I've been surprised to see hundreds of ducks sticking it out in temperatures as low as minus 20.

State of play: It's not just my imagination. More ducks are opting against migration due to evolution and natural selection — and there's an association with warming winters caused by climate change, Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River, told Axios.

Why it matters: These hardy Minnesota ducks have puzzled me and my curious first-grade daughter because we can't figure out how they survive.

How it works: Ducks have an incredible ability to keep themselves warm, Gentry said. Their feathers are so good at insulation that people use them in jackets and they have a heat exchange system that keeps their legs from freezing.

• Beyond that, Gentry said, they become more omnivorous in the winter, forgoing food like insects, worms and fish for plants, roots and seeds.
• While ducks don't need to have open water, they prefer it. And fast-moving Minnesota rivers and streams provide natural open water all winter, plus there are warm-water discharges from power plants and other human-made open water.

Yes, but: It still begs the question: These ducks have wings. Why not fly somewhere warmer?

• "Migration is just incredibly challenging, and a lot of birds die in the process," Gentry said. "So if you don't have to migrate, it's probably advantageous not to."
• The ducks that stick around and survive breed more ducks that have the same inclination to stay home all winter.

Fun fact: This is basically the plot of the 2023 kids movie "Migration." The father duck, voiced by Kumail Nanjiani, is scared of migrating from New England to Jamaica, but his family talks him into it.

The big picture: It's not just mallards. The Audubon Society has been conducting an annual bird count around Christmas for 124 years that has also noted Minnesota robins and Canadian geese are migrating less.

The bottom line: Minnesota retirees may be snowbirds, but our ducks, not so much.

Share with your quack pack

The Twin Cities' main air traffic control towers are close to fully-staffed — but it's a different story in many other cities, according to a recent FAA report.

Why it matters: January's deadly mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., is bringing fresh attention to the longstanding problem of these staffing shortages.

The big picture: As of September 2023, facilities overseeing airports and approaching or departing flights were nearly 2,000 short of a staffing goal of 8,966 controllers.

Zoom in: Minneapolis TRACON — which controls aircraft coming into and out of the metro's airspace — was one of the rare facilities that exceeded its staffing goal.

Yes, but: Minnesota's smaller airports were a different story. Duluth's tower is short-staffed by 40%, and Rochester's is more than 50% off its target.

Zoom out

"People lied to Ms. Bock. Evidence will show they betrayed her trust."

🏛️ In their opening statements of Bock's trial on federal fraud charges, federal prosecutors countered by saying they would prove she was the mastermind behind a $250 million pay-for-play scheme. (Star Tribune)

⚖️ Prosecutors charged state Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) with a second felony count in connection with the alleged burglary of her stepmother's home. Mitchell has pleaded not guilty. (KARE 11)

🔬 The University of Minnesota could lose up to $62 million annually if the Trump administration follows through with sweeping cuts to medical research funding, according to one estimate. (Minnesota Reformer)

Several key Minneapolis City Council members want to ask Hennepin County to take over some violence prevention programs. They say they lack confidence in the office that currently oversees the services. (Fox 9)

• In an interview with KSTP, the former head of that office accused the council of meddling. The city's public safety commissioner also told reporters last week the council's proposal was "ludicrous."

If you haven't already made them, dinner reservations this Friday will be a hassle.

Instead, consider staying in on Valentine's Day and cooking a meal together.

State of play: Many of Minnesota's top chefs have shared recipes with cooking sites and local outlets over the years.

• We rounded up some yummy-sounding options from a few of the restaurateurs recently named semifinalists for this year's James Beard Awards.

🌶️ Ann Ahmed (Khâluna, Lat14, Gai Noi): Bucatini Talay, or pasta tossed in tom yum paste-laced sauce and topped with jumbo shrimp, via Food & Wine.

• Twin Cities Public Television also has her recipe for Laotian sticky rice.

🥩 Karyn Tomlinson (Myriel): Grandma's pot roast with onions, garlic, mushrooms, thyme, carrots and potatoes, via TPT.

🥣 Mateo Mackbee (Krewe): Maque choux, a creamy sweet corn-based dish flavored with onions and peppers and topped with andouille sausage or shrimp, via MidwestLiving.

• The Star Tribune also has Mackbee's red beans and rice recipe with a special twist: a smoked turkey leg.

🍠 Sean Sherman (Owamni): Maple-chili crisp to drizzle over roasted sweet potatoes via Food & Wine.

🍫 Diane Moua (Diane's Place): Frozen Meyer Lemon parfait with pistachio brittle via Artful Living.

Go deeper: Our earlier list of recipes from local culinary luminaries

Weigh in: Do you have a favorite recipe written (or inspired) by a local chef? Reply to this newsletter!

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