Difficult Decisions in Florida

Devastation across Southwest Florida, the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, poses major questions for the State of Florida and for coastal communities across the globe.  As climate change fuels larger and more powerful hurricanes (and as sea levels rise), such horrific damage will become more common and decisions regarding how (or even if) to rebuild must be addressed.

Extensive damage to the infrastructure of these cities complicates and prolongs meaningful recovery and costs will be exorbitant.  Furthermore, long term economic effects are sure to occur as local businesses and tourism are shut down for an extended period.  Then there are environmental concerns due to storm-induced pollution of wells, streams, rives and seawater.  Finally, insurance companies are increasingly reluctant to provide coverage in such high risk zones.

Any rebuilding must certainly adhere to strict (and likely expensive) building codes designed to minimize damage from future storms.  One wonders whether it might be wise to retreat from barrier islands and coastlines once such major destruction occurs.  After all, we need not live right on the water to enjoy the beaches, surf and coastal habitats and, at some point, we will surely be forced to cede them back to nature.

Flashback Post XXXV

As Hurricane Ian pummeled Southwest Florida, onsite reporters augmented the drama by standing in the high winds and torrential rain to "demonstrate the power of the storm."  Their misguided antics inspired a post back in June of 2007.

See: Hurricane Stuntmen 

Flashback Post XXXIV

As changing forecasts of Hurricane Ian's track cause shifting anxiety along the Florida Gulf Coast, I have decided to republish a post from February of 2010.

See: Physicians & Meteorologists 

Ian Restores Reality

As I discussed last week, the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a bit of a dud until Fiona devastated Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before creating havoc in the Maritime provinces of Eastern Canada.  But the U.S. was spared and, no doubt, climate change deniers took solace in the dearth of tropical activity.

Then a Tropical Depression formed off the coast of Venezuela and drifted to the northwest, developing into Tropical Storm Ian over the warm waters of the Western Caribbean.  Now a hurricane, Ian will soon cross the westernmost portion of Cuba before swirling northward along the Gulf Coast of the Florida Peninsula,  The storm's exact track remains uncertain, but it is almost certain to rake most of the coastline with torrential rain, high winds and a significant storm surge; Ian's slow movement is expected to exacerbate the damage and its massive size will also threaten inland areas with flash flooding.

One can hope that Ian fizzles over the Gulf of Mexico but the excessively warm waters and lack of atmospheric wind sheer make that scenario unlikely.  Since humans won't retreat from their beachfront lifestyle anytime soon, such disasters will continue to unfold.  Global warming guarantees it.

A Walk through Campus

On this glorious autumn morning, I decided to take a walk through the Mizzou campus, only a block from our house.  Since I had spent a good portion of my career on that campus, I did not need a map.  Indeed, sightseeing was not my goal.

At my age, most humans focus primarily on the past and a good dose of the future can be therapeutic.  This morning, I encountered students who were exercising or lounging on benches but most were scurrying about, musical instruments, backpacks or various bags in their possession.  It was a scene of energy, optimism and adventure.

As for myself, I enjoyed the fresh air and morning sunshine while hoping to absorb some of the energy as well.  I could not escape the fact that we are turning over our damaged planet to these young adults and I was reassured by what I saw.

First Kinglet

On this cool, cloudy, rainy day in central Missouri, it was fitting that I encountered my first ruby-crowned kinglet of the season.  After all, they breed in coniferous forests across Alaska, Canada, Northern New England, the Upper Great Lakes region and southward through the mountain ranges of the West.

Feasting primarily on insects, these tiny songbirds flit among the branches of trees and large shrubs to snare their prey; during the winter months, they may also consume seeds, berries and insect eggs.  The energetic migrants are generally found in our region from late September through November as they head for the southern tier of the U.S. to spend the winter.

Despite their name, the ruby crest of the male is seldom seen in the field and these kinglets are best identified by their small size, white wing bars and eye ring, distinctive vocalizations and their very active hunting style, including their habit of fluttering their wings each time they alight on a limb.  This afternoon's visitor did not stay long but he will be remembered as the first to grace our yard this autumn.

Biden: The Pandemic is Over

I like Joe Biden and I agree with him on most issues.  But he can be fast and loose with his comments at times, especially for a U.S. President.  On 60 Minutes this week, he declared that "The Pandemic is Over," as evidenced by the fact that few people are wearing masks (what else is new?)..  This from a highly protected, fully vaccinated, elderly man who just had Covid himself a month or so ago.

In reality, the pandemic has clearly abated but we are just now entering the season when many respiratory viruses (including influenza and Covid) become more prevalent due to increased indoor activity.  A significant percentage of Americans remain unvaccinated and their inattention to masking and social distancing is almost certain to ignite another Covid wave, perhaps with a more virulent strain.  Of course, despite Biden's declaration, hundreds of Americans continue to die from Covid each day (and the numbers have been rising slowly since May).

Yes, Covid may eventually be approached like influenza, including recommendations for an annual autumn vaccination.  But the evidence is not yet in and, for those at high risk due to age or underlying disease, a change in behavior is especially unwise.  Just as polio is coming back due to inadequate vaccination in our population, Covid could explode once again.  Furthermore, as with influenza, vaccination does not offer complete protection from the infection itself (a fact that Biden must surely understand).

Racism, Mysticism & Politics

In their latest film series, The U.S. and the Holocaust, Ken Burns et al. focus primarily on our country's half-hearted response to Hitler's persecution of European Jews.  While the Great Depression tempered our willingness to accept a large number of immigrants, racism and anti-Semitism played significant roles as well.

Indeed, in the first episode, we learn that Hitler admired American's economic success and believed that our mistreatment of Native Americans and African slaves had been significant factors in our rapid expansion.  As in America, White Protestants controlled the levers of power in Nazi Germany.

Even today, as Conservative Republicans play to a base of Evangelical Christians and White Supremacists by shipping immigrants to Sanctuary Cities, they also kiss the ring of our former Racist in Chief, hoping to receive his blessing; mimicking Hitler, they employ book banning as a political tool.  Though I have only watched the first episode of The U.S. and the Holocaust, on PBS, I highly recommend the series, especially since it exposes the roots of the current threat to American Democracy.

A Message from Fiona

After a sluggish start to the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Hurricane Fiona has pummeled Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with strong winds and torrential rain.  Now headed for the Turks & Caicos and the Southern Bahamas, Fiona remains a Category 1 storm but may strengthen in the coming days.

While the Atlantic Hurricane Season has historically run from June to November, global warming will certainly extend that period as sea temperatures rise.  Though the U.S. had no significant impact from tropical storms or hurricanes through the traditional half-way point, Fiona may portend far more activity in October and November (and possibly beyond).

We do not yet know if climate change will increase the incidence of hurricanes but it is almost certain to augment their severity and extend their season.  As sea levels rise, even relatively mild tropical storms will likely produce severe flooding along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. 

Typhoon Merbok & Climate Change

Tropical storm Merbok formed in the Western Pacific Ocean on September 11 and was moving north as it intensified into a typhoon over the following days.  Forecast to weaken in the cooler waters of the Bering Sea, the storm defied expectations.

Crossing relatively warm ocean waters west of Alaska, Merbok retained tropical storm winds which, at times, reached hurricane-force intensity.  Massive waves developed north of the Aleutian Island Chain and, over the past two days, high winds, torrential rain and a storm surge approaching 12 feet lashed the West Coast of Alaska.  Extensive damage has been reported from small towns spaced along that rugged coastline.

Once again, global warming is primarily responsible for this tragic weather event.  Warm seawater fueled the power of this storm as the remnants of Merbok churned eastward.  No doubt, fewer tropical storms will die in sub-polar seas as climate change progresses.

An Invasion of Saplings

Suppressed by excessive heat and dryness this past summer, numerous saplings now rise in our flower beds and garden boxes, spurred on by recent rain and cooler weather.  While the brutal summer all but negated the need for yard maintenance, we now have plenty of work on our hands.

As in most years, young redbuds and mimosa trees dominate the invasion, joined by a host of small oaks and maples.  Left alone, they would soon shade out the flowering and garden plants and would surely wick away moisture and nutrients as well.

Though I tend to let nature do its thing, we live in a suburban neighborhood and certain expectations must be met.  So we will spend a good deal of time removing the saplings, all the while aware of the massive acorn crop this fall, guaranteed to yield countless young oaks in the spring.  

Immigrant Fodder

Attempting to please their Conservative Republican base, the Governors of Texas and Florida have begun shipping immigrants to various Liberal towns and cities across the U.S.  Though it is costing them millions of dollars to do so, they are loading the immigrants onto planes and busses to make a political statement.  Of course, these "shipments" occur without warning or prior arrangements with the destination cities and the innocent victims have no idea where they are heading or how they will survive once they are relocated.

In effect, the immigrants are being treated like livestock while the pompous Governors bask in the limelight of their political stunts.  No doubt, we have policy and enforcement problems at the border but such cruel behavior, condoned by many Republicans, is, in my opinion, criminal.

It is imperative that the courts step in to put an end to this political game and that the Justice Department investigate the Governors' clear disregard for human rights.  Once again, Trump Republicans have demonstrated that they will engage in illegal and inhumane activity to further their own agenda.

Lesser Meadow Katydid

Most grasshoppers are not overly appealing (except of course to the birds, reptiles and mammals that feast on them).  Indeed, hordes of grasshoppers can destroy crops or gardens and may even produce a slippery mess when they turn up in cities (see Grasshoppers invade Las Vegas).  Then there is their habit of spitting "tobacco" in your hand, a fact that I learned as an adventurous kid.

But this afternoon, while sitting on the porch, I encountered a tiny grasshopper with extremely long antennae.  It was a lesser meadow katydid, identified by its size (less than a half inch long), its bright green color with a rusty spine stripe, its very long antennae and its long, thin legs; females have a pointed abdomen that serves as an ovipositor.  Like other grasshoppers, it feeds on a wide variety of grasses and other plants but it's too damn cute not to like; besides, it's also known to consume the eggs of some "harmful" insects.

Meadow katydids are found across the globe, preferring warm, humid grasslands.  Apparently, our front lawn qualifies in that regard. 

Autumn Blows In

Yesterday, after a night of rain, a cold front passed through Missouri and northwest winds swept cool, dry air across the State.  The central low of the storm, centered over the Upper Midwest, has produced flooding rains in that region but its counterclockwise winds have brought the first significant taste of autumn for those of us to the west and south.

Riding those winds, about 100 blue-winged teal graced Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area yesterday morning, joined by eleven pied-billed grebes; shorebirds were also increasing on the refuge mudflats.  Of course, a few dozen teal hunters had moved in as well.

This morning, the temperature in central Missouri is 54 degrees F, the lowest it has been since spring.  Unfortunately, this seasonal respite will be brief and afternoon highs will reach the upper 80s F by the end of the week.  Nevertheless, it is reassuring that, despite climate change, the longer nights are beginning to have an effect.

News of the Day

American broadcasting companies, focused primarily on maintaining a high viewership, shift their daily news coverage to events that are likely to garner the most attention (and thereby please advertisers).  The death of a Queen, not an everyday occurrence, is just such an opportunity and the news organizations have descended on London to provide 24/7 coverage.

Meanwhile, a tragic war rages in Ukraine, climate change is creating havoc across the globe, American Democracy is under assault and economic hardship is imperiling Europe, among many other problems facing human civilization.  The Queen's death certainly warrants coverage (and a few specials) over the next week or so but a more balanced attention to important news seems appropriate.  An elderly queen dies in Britain while a widespread catastrophe (and thousands of deaths) devastate Pakistan; which deserves more attention?

Enamored with celebrity, most viewers would likely prefer to watch the coverage from London, however repetitious it may be, and the news companies know it.  God Save the King!  But who will save the planet?

Flashback Post XXXIII

The current tragic flooding in Pakistan even exceeds the catastrophe that I documented in a post twelve years ago.  Unfortunately, global warming will significantly increase the incidence of these events.

See: Pakistan's Catastrophic Flooding 

Death of a Queen

My condolences to the British People on the Death of Queen Elizabeth II.  She has been Queen since I was a toddler and I'm sure she brought a great deal of pride and comfort to her nation and her subjects during her long tenure.  But one wonders if her death will signal the beginning of the end of the British Monarchy.

In the Modern Era, the concept of honor and prestige based purely on inheritance is a difficult tradition to support.  For no other reason, the cost of maintaining the lifestyle of the Royal Family is a hard sell when the average citizen is struggling to make ends meet.

As a naturalist, I have long questioned the role of those who assume artificial titles: kings, queens, popes and self-proclaimed dictators, among others.  When we value the life of one individual above all others, the sanctity of life itself is questioned.  We can surely admire someone for their achievements without paying undue attention to their birthright.  It is, in truth, just another form of mysticism. 

The Waxwing Promise

Cedar waxwings, among the most congenial of birds, may be observed alone, in pairs or in small family groups during the late spring and summer months.  By early autumn, however, they tend to form large, nomadic flocks, wandering the countryside in search of insects and berries; this behavior generally continues through early spring.

This morning, at Perry Phillips Lake in Columbia, I was pleased to encounter 72 of these attractive birds, feasting in berry shrubs or fly-catching from trees along lake; three separate flocks were spaced along the shoreline.  Not skittish by nature, these serene travelers posed for identification as I wandered by or stopped to observe their sociable activity.

Of course, the large waxwing flocks promised that we are leaving summer behind (even though the autumn equinox is still two weeks away).  I, for one, will gladly accept their message. 

First the Water

The water gods at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area have opened some of the distribution valves and shallow water now covers a mix of pools and side channels.  While the watery landscape is especially welcomed by birders after a hot, dry summer, the early avian migrants have not yet responded to the changing habitat.

Indeed, on this cloudy, mild morning in Central Missouri, birds remained relatively inconspicuous at the floodplain refuge.  Thirteen great blue herons stalked the shallows but I did not encounter a single shorebird on the flooded fields; neither were egrets present this morning.  On the other hand, I did observe a small flock of blue-winged teal, the first I have seen this season and soon to expand to hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals.

We birders are often impatient when it comes to seasonal change but the movements of our quarry are unaffected by our expectations.  In this case, the habitat must prove to be inviting; first the water, then the rewards of their presence.

Cloudless Sulfur Butterflies

Over the past week, I have noticed a large number of moderate-sized, yellow butterflies in our Columbia yard, moving rapidly through the property.  These are cloudless sulphur butterflies, common throughout the eastern half of the U.S.

The adults feed on a wide variety of flowering plants but females lay a single, pill-like egg on the leaves of cassias, a group of legumes.  The egg hatches to yield a bright green or olive-colored caterpillar that harbors longitudinal stripes.  After feasting on the host plant, the caterpillar spins its chrysalis which resembles a folded, dying leaf; of course, an adult eventually emerges from this camouflaged chamber.

Closely related to cabbage whites, cloudless sulphur butterflies produce several generations in the course of a summer and then drift southward as autumn approaches; the majority winter in South Florida or South Texas.  The increased numbers that I observed this week likely represent the vanguard of that migration. 

Nadir at Eagle Bluffs

After easing my way through a jamboree of dove hunters that lined the entry road, I entered Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area and found that the floodplain refuge had finally reached its nadir.  The long, hot, dry summer had taken its toll and, like many humans, the renowned preserve appeared to be exhausted.

Bird activity had reached its lowest point and even common species were not well represented; during my visit, I encountered only two vultures, six great egrets and fourteen great blue herons, among an unimpressive mix of summer and permanent residents.  Indigo buntings were the only songbirds that seemed unfazed by the brutal summer.

On the positive side, I did observe a sharp-shinned hawk and three bald eagles (an adult and two immature).  Refuge personnel are finally reflooding some of the pools (just in time for the teal hunters) and a few large flocks of Canada geese, honking their way across the refuge, offered a welcome omen of the autumn spectacles soon to unfold.