Kathleen Carlson of Falmouth begins her day of Nordic skiing Jan. 23 by pulling her 4-month-old son, Jude, in a ski sled at the Auburn Nordic Ski Association trails. Her husband, Daniel, left, will take his turn pulling the sled later. The couple’s other children — Levi and Ronan — got a small head start. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Several mallards prepare to land Jan. 26, joining hundreds of others at a small area of open water on Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway. While most ducks migrate south for the winter, some stay if there are adequate food sources. Since the ducks can fly 800 miles or more in a day, it would not take long for them to become true “snowbirds.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Keith Landry of Oxford drives his four-wheeler Jan. 27 to his ice shack on Thompson Lake, as a pair of snowmobilers race toward Otisfield. The lake, which stretches from Oxford, through Otisfield, Poland and Casco, is popular with those who like ice fishing. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A barred owl with a broken beak prepares to take flight Jan. 28 from a branch along Line Road in Greene. According to Charity Bates, who lives on the road, the owl has been in the area for several weeks and is abnormally active during the day. “We are not sure if it’s he or she, but we’ve named it Esther,” Bates says. “She’s quite a local celebrity, as people stop every day to take photographs, and the school bus even slows down so the kids can take a look at her when they drive past.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Edward Little High School students Ian Lathrop and Alana Foster watch a shooting star Jan. 26 during rehearsal for “Almost, Maine.” The Drama Club production focuses on residents of the mythical town of Almost, Maine, falling in and out of love in unexpected ways. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 4 and 5 and 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at Auburn Middle School. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Female racers make the first climb Jan. 25 during the Mini Roy Varney Hornet Classic ski race at the Maine Outdoor Wellness Center in Turner. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Luka Kovacevich shops Jan. 28 for a pair of snowboard bindings at Backwoods Snowboards & Skateboards in Auburn ahead of Saturday’s snowstorm. Kovacevich is a snowboard instructor at Lost Valley ski area in Auburn and expects to be working during the storm. He says big powder days, when it is fun to fall down, are good for beginners to try snowboarding. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Math teacher Judy Radigan, left, gives digital media teacher Deanna Ehrhardt a fist bump Jan. 24 outside the new art rooms at Lewiston High School. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal