Winter Songbirds Arrive

Over the past week, winter songbirds have filtered into Central Missouri.  These birds summer and breed to our north (or at higher elevations), migrating to more temperate life zones for the colder months (generally from mid October to mid April).

While permanent avian residents remain the majority, they are now joined by white-throated and white-crowned sparrows, purple finches, pine siskins, hermit thrushes and dark-eyed juncos.  Less widespread and usually observed in rural areas or wetlands are American tree sparrows, swamp sparrows, fox sparrows, Harris' sparrows and golden-crowned kinglets.  Brown creepers, red-breasted nuthatches and yellow-bellied sapsuckers, while not songsters, are also among our winter avian residents.

Beyond the influx of songbirds are winter raptors (merlins, rough-legged hawks and short-eared owls, among other rare visitors) and waterfowl species that may or may not stay through the winter (depending on the availability of open water and food).  All of the winter species are certainly more than welcome and encourage us to leave the cozy confines of our heated homes to enjoy the invigorating weather and scenic landscapes of the season.  

Murder at Sea

Whether they were transporting illegal drugs or not, the killing of more than fifty individuals at sea by the U.S. Military have been illegal acts.  The "Secretary of War," having ordered the attacks, is culpable as well and, though the Supreme Court has pardoned Trump in advance, he could still be convicted of war crimes.

Yet to be determined is why one or more military commanders have been willing to carry out these illegal orders;  they may also be prosecuted.  To date, few Senators have spoken out about these murders, perhaps because Trump's Department of Justice is unlikely to act.

More than anything else that Trump and his Administration has done, these killings demand attention and prosecution.  They are clearly an affront to our Constitution and a gross injustice to those who have died at sea without evidence of criminal activity and without the benefit of the American legal system.  Politics is one thing; murder is quite another and cannot be tolerated.  

Bill Gates downplays Climate Change

Long a proponent of efforts to combat global warming, Bill Gates, a renowned philanthropist and the co-founder of Microsoft, is warning that an alarmist approach to climate change will diminish support for reasonable measures to mitigate its effects.  Shifting his financial commitment to programs that improve the lives and health of those in underdeveloped countries, Mr. Gates insists he is still very concerned about the impact of global warming but has become convinced that humans will learn to adapt to its complications.

One wonders whether Mr. Gates' change of heart is derived from the current political climate in America.  Does he fear lawsuits from the Trump Administration, run by climate change deniers?  In light of pressure placed on corporations to comply with MAGA philosophy, one suspects this may be the case.

Having achieved a great deal over the years through the work of his Foundation, one hopes that truth still guides his commitments.  We should be able to simultaneously address all of the issues that threaten the welfare of our species and our Planet.

October Chill at Phillips Lake

Arriving at Phillips Lake, in southeast Columbia, this morning, I was greeted by a low, gray overcast, chilly air and a steady east breeze.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed an invigorating walk and encountered a pleasing mix of birds.

Adding to the seasonal milieu, multiple flocks of Canada geese passed overhead, honking as they moved on to their favored feeding grounds.  Other highlights included an osprey, a red-shouldered hawk, an American kestrel, a pair of great blue herons, four northern mockingbirds and the first flock of white-crowned sparrows that I have observed this season.

The long, hot summer has finally drifted to the south and our current autumn chill is more than welcome.  I look forward to the arrival of more winter visitors and residents over the coming weeks. 

Hurricane Melissa threatens Jamaica

Currently a category 5 storm, with winds of 160 mph, Hurricane Melissa is expected to turn northward later this morning and cross the island of Jamaica overnight.  Heavy rain (up to three feet), storm surge, strong winds, flash floods and mud slides are forecast to devastate the country.

Though it has been a relatively quiet Atlantic Hurricane Season, it only takes one intense storm to remind us that climate change will spawn larger and more destructive hurricanes.  After causing widespread misery in Jamaica, Melissa is forecast to head off to the NNE, crossing eastern Cuba and then the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The recovery in Jamaica will surely be prolonged and its citizens will depend on assistance from other countries throughout the Caribbean and across the globe.  In this era of political isolationism, that may be a challenge.  International aid organizations will likely take the lead and your financial support for their work is strongly encouraged.   

An Update from Eagle Bluffs

Since my normally-reliable birding companion is out West, bumming around the Four Corners region, I enticed one of my grandsons to join me for an excursion to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this afternoon.  Low clouds shrouded the floodplain, light rain was falling and shallow water covered the channels, sloughs, pools and low spots in the fields.  In other words, recovery from the prolonged, man-made drought is nearly complete.

From mid-October through the winter, access is limited to the northern half of the refuge to protect wintering waterfowl.  Based on our observations this afternoon, the waterfowl have not yet responded to the improved conditions; we observed about 75 mallards, 36 American coot, a dozen or so gadwall, four northern shovelers, two Canada geese and a lone pied-billed grebe.  No waders or shorebirds were seen nor was there any sign of duck hunters.

Nevertheless, the watery landscape was the star of our visit.  This fabulous wetland refuge has recovered and, hopefully, the waterfowl will soon find out.   

Crossing a Trough

Heading east across the Great Plains today, I drove beneath bright sunshine from Denver into western Kansas.  The air was dry and relatively cool, consistent with passing through the center of an atmospheric trough, caused by high pressure within a dip in the jet stream.

Meanwhile, south of the trough, thunderstorms, some severe, were marching across north Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.  As I approached Colby, Kansas, a band of low clouds stretched across the eastern horizon, demarcating the eastern wall of the trough.  Beneath those clouds, the wind had shifted out of the east and, by the time I reached WaKeeney, dense fog shrouded  the landscape.  Finally, as I descended into Hays (my standard layover site), the fog cleared and warmer, more humid air was moving up from the south.

Tomorrow, as I continue my eastward journey, the trough will have deepened in the West and the storms that plagued the Southern Plains today will have shifted eastward and northeastward.  In other words, I can expect to be driving through rain for much, if not most, of the day. 

Special People in our Lives

During our lives, we are influenced by a great number of people, including family members, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors and colleagues, among others.  But, as we grow older, we come to realize that a relatively small number of individuals, perhaps a half-dozen or so, have had an enduring and powerful effect on us.

These relationships usually occur during childhood or in early adulthood, when our emotional and intellectual development have not fully matured and when our belief system and career choice remain pliable.  In my case, one of these persons was my college English professor; though I cannot even remember her name, she encouraged me to consider a writing career, thereby giving me confidence to indulge that passion throughout my life.

Of course, the effects of these special relationships may have been positive, negative or mixed but they live on at a distinctly conscious level.  We cannot and should not deny their impact.   

Desecration in D.C.

Having promised less than three months ago that his 200 million-dollar ballroom, financed by donations from U.S. Corporations, would not disrupt the existing structure of the White House, King Trump's team in now in the process of tearing down the entire East Wing.  Of course, this action is without the consent of Congress or any other Government Agency and is the most overt evidence to date of Trump's assumption of omnipotence.  Thanks to the Supreme Court, he can do what he wants without fear of prosecution.

So this desecration of a cherished and historic structure, belonging to the citizens of the United States, is occurring without apparent resistance.  Those corporations who funded the ballroom project, familiar with the plans or not, are complicit in the tragic destruction.

Perhaps this sickening symbol of Trump's power grab will wake up those who have, to date, been willing to ignore his more subtle measures.  One wonders how Republicans will defend this horrific and irreversible attack on our shared history.  

An Influx of Migrants

As a friend and I discovered at South Platte Park this morning, yesterday's northerly winds brought down the first significant number and variety of migrant waterfowl.  Following a sluggish start to the autumn migration, these travelers, most of which will likely spend the winter along the Front Range, were a welcome sight.

Among the species observed were pied-billed grebes, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, gadwall, American wigeon, northern pintails, ring-necked ducks and a lone canvasback; they joined year-round residents, including mallards, wood ducks and ring-billed gulls.  Observing these flocks were an osprey and a pair of bald eagles, perched in a treeline west of the lakes.

Since I will be returning to Missouri in a few days, it was good to witness the early stages of this inspiring annual transition.  Hopefully, the Midwestern version will greet my arrival.  

Raked by a Northwest Wind

 The latest Pacific storm system pulled out of the Northern Rockies this morning and its strong, counterclockwise winds raked the Front Range urban corridor.  Since we were south and west of the storm's path, the winds were out of the northwest.  Furthermore, since the air was descending from higher terrain, it was devoid of moisture, producing crystal-clear air across the region.

As the storm proceeds eastward, the winds will shift from the north and then die down.  Across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, its cold front will encounter warmer air and Gulf of Mexico moisture, igniting thunderstorms.

Here at the base of the Front Range, elevation and wind direction have dramatic effects on our weather.  Today, we escaped the brunt of the storm but did lose a lot of colorful leaves from our trees.  Then again, that was beneficial as well; we don't want leafed-out trees when the first autumn snows arrive.

A Quiet Disaster in Alaska

Back on October 11, the remnants of Typhoon Halong struck the vast Delta of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, along the southwest coast of Alaska.  Dozens of towns were destroyed and thousands of residents were displaced; since this remote area has no road access from the rest of the State, evacuations have been carried out by military planes and ships.  Most of the evacuees lost everything, including the graves of their ancestors.

I'll admit that I limit my exposure to the news these days, not wanting to be overwhelmed by the antics of King Trump, but I do scan the New York Times each day.  Until this morning, I was unaware of this disaster and, frankly, am a bit ashamed of that fact.  One could only begin to imagine the coverage that such an event would have received if it occurred along a coastline of the Lower 48.

Remote and self-sufficient, these native Alaskans are Americans, just like any New York billionaire.  They deserve our attention, our compassion and our financial support. Please consider making a donation to the American Red Cross on their behalf.

No Kings Day II

On this beautiful but breezy morning along the Front Range, my son and I attended the second National No Kings protest.  Here in Littleton, the crowd was larger and noisier than the first rally, back in June, and at least 2/3 of the passing vehicles honked their support.

Of course, Trump has minimized the significance of these demonstrations, despite his current approval rating of 37 percent (rather generous in my opinion).  On the other hand, Our Dear Leader loves attention, good or bad.

But those Senators and House Members running for re-election next year are surely disturbed by the large number and size of the No Kings protests.  Sticking with Trump may seal their own defeat, even in many Red States.  Since their loyalty is based more on fear than on policies, we may begin to witness some defections over the coming months. 

Bugling from the Blue

Yesterday afternoon, while reading under a clear blue sky, I heard the distinctive bugling of sandhill cranes.  A flock of fifty-five cranes was passing overhead, almost too high to see.

During this autumn of sluggish waterfowl migrations, the cranes seemed to signal that our seasonal spectacles will still unfold, tardy though they may be.  A couple of potent cold fronts should bring the flocks south.

Heading for wintering grounds in New Mexico or West Texas, sandhill cranes pass over the Front Range urban corridor each autumn.  We birders hope to witness their journey and I am grateful to have been in their path. 

The Sound of Comfort

During my preschool years, I spent a great deal of time with my maternal grandparents.  My grandfather, who had a fondness for trains, put together a detailed model railroad in one of their spare rooms.  In addition, he would walk me down to the corner each day to watch freight trains cross a bridge, several blocks away.

To this day, I appreciate that kindness as well as his interest in the wildlife on his property, which, over time, spawned my naturalist philosophy and commitment to conservation

Seventy years later, the sound of a distant freight train, especially during the night, has a soothing effect on me.  It takes me back to that period of innocence, when the toll of loss, sorrow and death had not yet been experienced.

See: Soul Mate 

An Asphalt Desert

Sitting in the bright sunshine this afternoon, I looked out across our aging asphalt driveway and was immediately struck by its resemblance to a desert landscape.  An extensive network of shallow cracks brought to mind the dry river beds and washes that one sees on aerial photos of deserts.

Scattered pebbles might have been the remnants of volcanic necks and sun-bleached twigs had clearly washed down from higher woodlands, perhaps in a flash flood.  A bit downstream from my chair, one of the larger drainages had expanded into a shallow badlands where ridges of asphalt rose above an oval pattern of rivulets.

It was into this sun-drenched, arid landscape that a tiny ant ventured, zigzagging his way with apparent purpose.  Halfway across the driveway, he disappeared into one of the deeper "canyons," risking, in my mind, attack by a hidden predator.  As if to give credence to my imaginary scenario, a moth suddenly emerged from another crevice, flying off toward the greenery of our "lawn." 

Water Birds on a Cold Morning

On this cold, cloudy, breezy morning along the Front Range, a friend and I visited South Platte Park.  While the songbirds had retreated to protected feeding sites, we encountered a good variety of water birds.

A large flock of American widgeon cruised across one of the lakes while multiple flocks of ring-billed gulls and double-crested cormorants arrived from the north.  A quartet of American white pelicans glided overhead, a pair of black-crowned night herons moved along a shoreline and belted kingfishers noisily hovered and dove for their breakfast.

Nevertheless, the autumn waterfowl migration remains behind schedule, likely due to relatively mild weather across their northern breeding range.  But if this morning's weather was any indication, they should arrive soon enough. 

The Desocialization of Youth

Numerous studies over the past decade have shown that social media has diminished the traditional socialization of teens and young adults.  This sad development appears to be most common among young males.

Now, artificial intelligence is exacerbating the problem, encouraging susceptible individuals to develop relationships with the life-like responder.  As with all forms of social media, the primary "victims" are those deprived of direct social interactions with friends, classmates, teammates, fellow workers or other more traditional forms of human engagement.  This may result from personal or family issues; the latter often arise when parents are absent due to employment obligations.

The solution to this growing problem is complicated, involving both restrictions on access to social media (in school and at home) and the active encouragement to participate in sports, clubs, job or volunteer opportunities and social gatherings.  Friends, family members, teachers, mentors and, when necessary, counselors must all be involved.