I drove 2 hours to SE Mn, right across the river from Wi yesterday.  Saw quite a few birds on the high points of fields where the snow had blown thin and melted in the sun.   The deer where even more incredible.  We saw 15-30+ at a time.  Good to see them as it had to be a tough winter, and I think the amount of animals we saw congregating in the patchy areas where the snow had melted were a testament to that.