Flashback Post LXXI

As we approach Christmas and New Year's Day, it is best that we acknowledge that the Holidays may trigger stress and/or depression in many Americans.  A post from December of 2013 offered my thoughts on this matter.

See: Holiday Depression 

A Missing Winter Tenant

Having owned our Littleton, Colorado, farm for 35 years, I have witnessed the arrival and departure of various avian species as the seasons change.  For the most part, their schedule has remained reliably predictable.

One of our regular winter residents has been a Townsend's solitaire, arriving in October and returning to the mountains by mid April.  Of course, based on a reported lifespan of up to seven years, this annual tenant has been represented by five or more individuals.

This winter, the solitaire has yet to arrive, despite an abundant crop of juniper berries on which it feeds.  Though I come and go myself, I have not seen the bird nor heard its distinctive calls since last spring.  Knowing that nature and her cast of characters can be fickle does not diminish my disappointment; hopefully, he/she will have checked in by the time I return.

Pacific Northwest Flooding

A series of Pacific storms have lined up from Hawaii to British Columbia.  The first of these produced widespread flooding across western Washington over the past few days, having directed its "atmospheric river" at that State before coming ashore in Canada.

Following a reprieve today, the second storm will arrive off the Pacific Northwest coast by tomorrow and its atmospheric river is expected to pummel the area once again.  Since its air will be warmer than that of the first storm, it will likely trigger snowmelt across lower elevations of the Cascades, augmenting the severity of the deluge.  Unfortunately, a third storm is currently swirling near Hawaii and, depending on the angle of its attack, may bring flooding rains to western Washington as well.

Guided by the jet stream, such storms are responsible for the relatively mild, moist climate of the Pacific Northwest.  But when the weather pattern fails to shift, recurrent storms direct their cargo of moisture across the same coastal region, producing destructive floods and landslides. 

Aging Philosophers

As we age, most of us become more philosophical.  After all, we have a lifetime of experiences to fuel our thoughts, opinions and beliefs.  Among these are a mix of joy, pain, success, failure, love and heartache, to name but a few.

Many aging philosophers keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves while others, myself included, feel obliged to express them.  What better way to share the human experience?  Our personal view of life may or may not reflect truth but it is our contribution to the ongoing evolution of our species.

At the very least, it seems best to share our philosophy with our children and grandchildren.  Indeed, it is the most enduring gift we have to offer.

The Calls of Winter

We think of winter as the quiet season, reflecting the relative silence of birds, the hibernation of many species and the muffling effect of snow.  Of course, the cycle of life continues and some of our wild neighbors can be especially noisy throughout the winter months.

Back at our Littleton farm for a week, the seasonal expansion of the Canada geese population cannot be ignored.  Large, vocal flocks of these hardy birds, a mix of seasonal and permanent residents, move above the urban corridor, searching for open grasslands or returning to lakes for the night.  American crows and black-billed magpies have also gathered in large noisy flocks, improving their success in locating sources of food.

Then there are the nocturnal calls of coyotes, fox and great horned owls, intensifying as their mating season approaches.  Finally, as the days lengthen in February, the hysterical calls of northern flickers echo throughout our neighborhoods, announcing the gradual and often erratic transition to spring. 

The Great Plains Transition

Driving westward across the Great Plains of North America, one gradually leaves behind the woodlands and rolling terrain of the Midwest and Southeast as the climate becomes drier and the rivers smaller.  Eventually, the traveler enters the High Plains Province, where  the landscape is flat, the rivers are often dry and the woodlands have disappeared.  For those following Interstate 70, this transition is most abrupt between Hays (elevation 2018 feet) and WaKeeney (elevation 2450 feet), Kansas.

While the landscape change is obvious, birders will also notice a change in the primary raptors.  The common red-tailed hawks and American kestrels of the Midwest, the Southeast and Eastern Plains have been replaced by prairie falcons, Swainson's hawks (summer) and rough-legged hawks (winter).  Bald eagles all but disappear while golden eagles may grace the scene, especially as one approaches the Front Range.

Indeed, east of the mountains, the flat, High Plains yield to dissected terrain once again, the erosive effect of the Arkansas and South Platte River systems, fed by snowmelt from the Continental Divide.  Riparian woodlands reappear and, along the Front Range urban corridor, red-tailed hawks and bald eagles rejoin the raptor population.

Flashback Post LXX

Today's magnitude 7.0 earthquake along the coast of southeast Alaska (Northwest of Juneau) reflects the complex geology of that State, a subject discussed back in August of 2012.

See: Alaska's Collage of Terranes 

Duckland Restored

On this sunny but cold afternoon, a friend and I revisited Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on the Missouri River floodplain.  There we found that water coverage has finally returned to normal and that migrant waterfowl have noticed.

As has often been the case, mallards dominated the mixed flocks, followed by northern shovelers, green-winged teal, gadwall and a lone, male canvasback.  More than fifty American coot and a couple of pied-billed grebes were also observed.  Other sightings of note included three northern harriers, two red-tailed hawk, an American kestrel and a trio of Wilson's snipe.

Though small flocks of migrant geese have recently been reported in the area, none were observed today.  To see their massive flocks descend on Eagle Bluffs once again will confirm that the refuge has fully recovered from its prolonged, man-induced drought. 

Open Country Raptors

Driving across the snow-covered farmlands east of Columbia this afternoon, I encountered a few of our more common, open country raptors.  Two American kestrels were observed, hunting from power lines, a red-tailed hawk was perched on a telephone pole while another soared above the snowy landscape and a northern harrier attacked a massive flock of blackbirds, sending them into the chilly air.

Though I occasionally see short-eared owls and rough-legged hawks in that area, none were observed along my 6-mile route.  And while my vigil for migrant snow geese and greater white-fronted geese continues (without success), I did see a large flock of Canada geese, feeding in the crop stubble; it is more rewarding to encounter these common birds on farmlands than on the large, pristine lawns of our various businesses.

My winter tours of Missouri farm country will continue and, one of these days, flocks of migrant geese will grace the scene.  For now, I'll enjoy the raptors.  

First Snowy Day

It is appropriate that our first snowy day of the season is occurring on December 1, the first meteorologic day of winter.  While we did receive a bit of snow a few nights ago, it was mixed with rain, producing little more than slushy roadways.

This winter storm moved into central Missouri about 8 AM and has dropped several inches so far; a check of the radar shows that most of the State is receiving snow though the system is gradually moving to the northeast, entering Iowa and Illinois.

Since our temperature has remained in the 20s F, a thin layer of ice has formed on the roads, creating a challenge for drivers in hilly areas.  Overall though, most of us appreciate the wintry weather, especially during the Holiday Season.  Besides, snowstorms bring beauty and tranquility: less noise, less activity and a good reason to just stay put (easy to say at my age). 

Frigid Sunshine in the Valley

Brilliant sunshine illuminated the wooded hills and valley fields along Lower Bonne Femme Creek this morning but a temperature of 22 degrees F, exacerbated by a steady west wind, kept wildlife mostly out of sight during my visit.

Indeed, along my three-mile course I encountered only a smattering of common songbirds and a lone, stoic, red-tailed hawk, perched in a dead tree.  Though I hoped to see migrant geese traveling south through the Missouri River Valley, none appeared in the deep blue sky.

Of course, my tour was well worth the effort, despite the weather and the dearth of wildlife.  I could have been home, enveloped in heated air while absorbing the latest atrocities of the Trump Administration.  I'll take a drive in the country anytime.

Trump's Response to Tragedy

The shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, one of whom has now died, triggered a rapid and impulsive response from King Trump.  Unwilling to admit that the deployments were and are ill-advised, he has ordered up 500 more troops to further increase security.

Furthermore, having learned that the shooter was an Afghan native (who happened to assist U.S. troops in his own country), Trump initially ordered that the immigration of individuals from Afghanistan will be halted and has now put a stop to immigration from all "Third World countries."

In other words, the actions of a deranged killer have caused our King to increase the number of potential victims in the District of Columbia and to label all individuals from impoverished countries as high risk immigrants.  Of course, the white, American men who tried to assassinate Trump and who killed Charlie Kirk, did not trigger such a widespread condemnation.  In the face of tragedy, racism is a convenient tool that can be used to provide cover for unwise policies.  

An Arctic Pinwheel

A deep atmospheric trough, currently dipping across the Great Lakes, is producing low windchills and lake-effect snows throughout that region.  Up to a foot of snow has accumulated in some areas and the final totals may be twice that amount, especially in the swaths of higher terrain.

More widespread are the gusty winds that are circulating around the central low, which now sits above northeastern Wisconsin.  Moving counterclockwise, they are pulling in additional moisture from the Mid-Atlantic region and raking the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with Arctic air.

Here in central Missouri, despite the bright sunshine, the storm's northwest winds are producing afternoon high near 42 degrees F; of course, the wind-chill is at least 10 degrees below the air temperature.  A taste of winter just in time for our Thanksgiving feast!  Happy Holidays to all.

The Nature of Traitors

According to King Trump, those Democratic military veterans who reminded current service members that, per the U.S. Constitution, they cannot follow illegal orders, are traitors and may be subject to the death penalty; his Department of War is now investigating those veterans.  Of course, Trump has referred to other U.S. citizens as traitors whenever they oppose his policies or decrees; Marjorie Taylor Greene is the latest Congress member to receive that title and several others are under investigation by his Department of Justice.

But traitors are those who willingly ignore the Constitution and the rule of law, thereby endangering our Democracy. Examples include attempting to overturn a legal election, sending the military into American cities to confront protestors and killing non-combatants at sea without benefit of a trial.  Then there is the act of pardoning individuals who are tied to the political and/or financial welfare of the President and his family.  Finally, relentless lying to the American public might also be labeled as traitorous.

Indeed, King Trump is our Traitor-in-Chief, threatening our Constitution and the rights of his perceived enemies.  Those who blindly support him are traitors as well.

Winter Flocks

Many bird species gather in large flocks during the colder months to improve their search for food and to decrease their risk of predation.  Even non-birders likely note the massive flocks of starlings, blackbirds, robins and mourning doves that move across farmlands and sometimes invade our neighborhoods.

Other songbirds tend to gather in feeding groups for the same purposes.  These mixed flocks usually include chickadees, titmice, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals, nuthatches and a host of sparrows, juncos and finches.  Absent for periods of time, these groups suddenly turn up in our yards, scouring the trees and shrubs or swarming the feeders.

All of these roaming winter flocks attract the attention of predators and draw in rare loners as well, further enhancing the spectacle for birders.  While we look forward to the spring and fall migrations for their pure diversity of species, it is winter that delivers the numbers. 

Living in our Future

Throughout our lives, we humans wonder about our future.  By the time we enter high school, our focus is on whether we will go to college and what career we might pursue.  A bit later on, we wonder who we will marry, if we will have children and where we will live.

In middle age, we shift our concerns to the future welfare of our children, our grandchildren and our parents.  Of course, the latter often have health problems by that time and we worry about their future needs, including their potential care requirements.

Once we are old ourselves, the mysteries of our life have been solved except, of course, the timing and cause of our own death.  We are now living in our future but, in many ways, it is now easier to live in the present.  Though we might often think of our past, we know it is beyond our control and, eventually, come to terms with any regrets we might harbor.  Focusing on the present is necessary, healthy and comforting.

See also: Living in the Present 

Cut-Off Lows

The series of Pacific storms that have brought flooding rains to Southern California have been produced by "cut-off lows," not energized and driven by the jet stream.  As a result, they have meandered eastward, devoid of powerful winds or strong thunderstorms.

Currently, one of these storms is centered over Kansas and its counterclockwise winds are pulling up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.  A band of steady rain stretches across Missouri, eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska, a welcome development for this drought-plagued region.

Meanwhile, another cut-off low is spinning off Southern California, sweeping more rain into that water-logged area.  Unless and until an atmospheric trough drops southward to boost its energy, it will likely arrive here by mid week.  We'll take whatever moisture it brings. 

A Duckless Floodplain

An 88-mile segment of Interstate 29, between Mound City, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, runs across the broad, flat floodplain of the Missouri River.  This ecosystem is a mosaic of crop fields, lakes, wetlands, canals, tributaries and riparian woodlands.  Red-tailed hawks are usually common along the highway, the massive nests of bald eagles are evident in some of the larger trees and waterfowl are often abundant on the open waters or flying overhead, especially during seasonal migrations.  Indeed, Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, renowned for its spectacular flocks of migrant snow geese, is just south of Mound City.

So, having driven this road in both directions over the past few days, I was shocked not to observe a single duck or goose.  Only adding to my personal impatience with the tardy waterfowl migration, their complete absence on the floodplain was disturbing..

Perhaps this observation merely reflects relatively warm conditions across northern latitudes, yet another sign of climate change.  Maybe the waterfowl were concentrated closer to the river on the west side of the floodplain.  But those of us concerned about our unrelenting assault on the health of natural ecosystems cannot shake the conviction that we humans are slowly degrading the planet.

God and Uncertainty

It seems to me that our personal concept of God is a product of our culture, our family dynamics, our education, our life experience and our capacity to remain objective.  Early man associated various gods with most natural phenomena; since then, as our species has evolved, our collective and personal view of God has become more refined.

Nevertheless, among modern human beings, there is a wide variety of beliefs, from a strict devotion to historical Scripture to atheism.  The less we understand about the nature of our Universe, which may be due to the circumstances of our life or due to choices that we have made, the easier it is to retain a simplistic view of God.

In the end, regardless of ingrained beliefs and the level of our education, it is our determination and willingness to be objective that most influences our belief in a divine being.  Were it left to the individual, this would be sufficient; unfortunately, devoutly religious groups in human society too often want to impose their beliefs on the rest of us.

See also:  Man and Religion