[Henry Briggs Nature Series: Blizzard]

Can DescriptionsBriggs footage originally shot on 16mm film. // Briggs gives running narration throughout. // Snow fallling on farmland. Forest, pine trees with boughs covered in snow. Squirrel in tree. Blue jay in tree. Close-up of red berries on tree branch. Snowplow plowing snow off road in Skowhegan. Red fox in snowy woods. Slow-motion footage of white-tailed deer running in woods, close-up of deer eating maple tree branches. More red fox footage, fox chases field mouse in woods. Snowshoe rabbit eating pine needles. Close-up of fox licking paws beside dead rabbit. Red squirrel eating butternut nut. White arctic owl setting on tree branch. Porcupine in tree, man climbs up tree and shakes branch with porcupine on it. Porcupine climbing tree, walking through snow. Close-up of bobcat resting under tree. Lots of sharp, long icicles hang from roof of house. Car exhaust spraying out on very cold day as car starts. Car pushes another from behind to help get engine started. Mist rising from Kennebec River against backdrop of Skowhegan mill chimneys. Man walking down snowy road with very large snow banks on both sides. Ice-covered trees in forest. Close-up of bushes and grass coated in ice. Bingham: mountaintop view of snowstorm approaching. Blizzard. Car buried in snowdrift. Wind blowing snow through fields. Owl covered in snow. Deer walking in deep snow. Man shoveling car out of snowdrift while strong wind blows snow around. Two men walking against very strong wind. Man struggles to walk through deep snow carrying buckets in both hands. Birds eat seeds on snow. Farmhouse and barn buried in snowdrifts. Tall man walks on snow wearing snowshoes. Snow plow struggles to plow roads, must stop and begin again repeatedly. Two men and boy pose in front of snow plow - excellent shot.

AbstractBriggs voiceover observing the beauty of winter; Snowy scenes on the farm with cows, a dog and landscape of trees and streams, out buildings and grey squirrels, blue jays; the fruit of poison ivy is described; Skowhegan snow plows the road; a warning about the dangers of snow; red fox observed; a Virginia white tail deer bounds across the landscape and feeds on soft twigs; a red fox tracks a mouse; a field mouse is spied; the chase is on and described; the fox moves on to a snowshoe rabbit who is feeding on green stems; the fox cleans himself before eating the rabbit; the lives of squirrels and a gross beak, owls and snow bunting are observed; a porcupine is observed in a hemlock tree; a Maine bobcat is spotted and described; a deer is scared away by the bobcat; frosted windows, roof ice and cold cars are noted and described; pond ice and sea smoke are described; effects of wind chill are noted; the open water of the Kennebec river is observed; ice-coated foliage is observed; weather-watching toward Canada records a snow storm coming in; the car is buried by the snow and high winds; an owl and a deer are observed in the deep snow; a neighbor is stuck in the snow; two workers trudge through the storm looking for help with their truck; running water "the kind that you run out and get" is collected; after the storm the animals return slowly looking for food; birds are observed; the reasons for buildings connected are described; a milk run on a sled is observed; a neighbor's truck is completely buried in the snow; Skinny "a tall drink of skimmed milk" demonstrates snow shoes; a truck slowly plowing the roads is observed; kids await the truck's arrival; the howl of the wind is noted; credits;

OtherProductions using any of this footage must provide on-screen credit as follows: MPBN Collection Footage provided by Northeast Historic Film, www.oldfilm.org; Northeast Historic Film, PO Box 900, 85 Main Street, Bucksport, ME 04416, Phone 207-469-0924, Fax 207-469-7875, www.oldfilm.org;

• Henry Briggs

• Henry Briggs