Krider's Hawk

On our visit to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this afternoon, a friend and I encountered a Krider's hawk, a light race of the common red-tailed hawk.  The whiteness of this raptor varies across its range and today's visitor was almost completely white with dark speckling on the dorsal aspect of its wings and a faint red band across the end of its tail.

Krider's red-tailed hawks breed across the Northern Plains of Canada and the U.S. and winter on the Southern Plains.  Of course, migrant raptors do not adhere to State lines and these birds occasionally turn up in States that border that region.  Indeed, this subspecies is named for a collector who first shot one in Philadelphia.

Since the Krider's red-tails interbreed with darker subspecies east and west of its range, they will likely disappear from the Continent over time.  It was thus a special treat to observe this beautiful raptor today.

 

Humans and our Vehicles

Many humans are emotionally attached to their car or truck, some of us more so than others.  In my experience, those who own sports cars or pickup trucks are especially vulnerable to this relationship.

For the first time in several years, I have brought my pickup back from our Colorado farm where it has languished in the driveway, enduring the intense summer sun, severe winter cold and heavy snowstorms during most seasons.  Since it was "born" in 2003 and has travelled more than 260,000 miles, I had decided that I should not tempt fate by driving it between Colorado and Missouri.  Not having it for snowy weather and concerned that, like humans, it would deteriorate more quickly without activity, I changed my mind.  Of course, I also missed having it available for a variety of chores..

To be even more honest, I feel younger when I'm driving my pickup, despite the fact that I bought it as a used vehicle when I was already in my mid-fifties.  But, at this point, I need all the youthful sentiments I can muster. 

Ahead of the Snow

 I left Metro Denver yesterday morning under sunny skies.  However, dark clouds stretched across the western and northern horizons, signaling the approach of the first winter storm of the season.  Up to 5 inches of snow are expected in Metro Denver as the cold front plunges from the Rockies and expands  southeastward across the High Plains.  Lows in the teens F and a foot or more of snow have already been reported across the Northern Plains of Montana and North Dakota.

Staying ahead of the front, I drove through sun-drenched but chilly air as I headed eastward toward Missouri.  Though I hoped to see migrant flocks of cranes and geese, escaping the sub-freezing air behind the front, none were encountered.  I spent the night in Hays, Kansas, where the overnight low has dropped into the upper 20s F.

Still facing a six hour drive to Columbia, I certainly expect to observe those migrant flocks of waterfowl as the winter storm moves eastward.  An update tomorrow.

Update:  Despite a brilliant Hunter's Moon in the western sky this morning (which I took to be a positive omen), I encountered only one flock of snow geese on my six hour drive; about 60 of the travelers were flying south just east of Topeka, Kansas.  No other migrant geese were observed, though I did see a few thousand starlings!  

Mental Illness and Guns

As the tragedy in Maine continues to unfold, one can hear the opponents of gun control arguing that the killer has a history of mental illness.  In their opinion, "guns do not kill people, mental illness does."

There is no doubt that mentally ill persons with access to guns may harm themselves or others.  The real question is: "Why do they have access to guns, especially military assault rifles?"  The answer is twofold: 1. Our screening is inadequate due to political opposition and 2. Access to military weapons is widespread due to political inaction.

Almost all mass shootings in the United States have involved the use of military assault rifles.  Why are these available to the general public?  To protect ourselves from "the Police State?"  Sounds a lot like the Big Lie.  Vote for Democrats in 2024!

Full Disclosure: I am a registered Independent 

Hurricane Otis devastates Acapulco

Slamming into the Pacific Coast of southern Mexico early yesterday morning, Hurricane Otis had reached Category 5 status, causing widespread destruction across Acapulco.  Backed by a range of mountains, the city has endured torrential rain, a massive storm surge, catastrophic winds, mudslides and flooding along its raging mountain streams.

Just the latest powerful hurricane, fueled by warm ocean waters and hot, humid air, its tragic effects will devastate the region for an extended period of time.  Climate change is exacting a major toll on human communities and natural ecosystems alike, producing death, destruction and economic stress across the globe.

If there is any benefit derived from this storm, it is the river of moisture that it sent northeastward, bringing much-needed rain to eastern Texas and the Midwest.  As the atmosphere becomes increasingly energized by a warming global climate, alternating patterns of drought and intense storms will likely become the norm. 

Keep Moving!

In modern American society, one need not leave their cozy home until the undertaker arrives.  Almost everything, from toilet paper to vehicles can be purchased online and delivered to your door.  Food and booze are just a text or phone call away.

For the more adventurous, sight-seeing from the car can be enjoyable, especially since fast food drive-thrus are widely available.  Here in Denver (and I assume in most big cities), one can now get their oil changed while staying in the car.  During my recent visit to the massive confines of DFW, I learned that one need not walk to the burger joint for nourishment; rather, the food can be ordered by text and delivered to your gate.  The only reason to get up is to heed the call of nature or to get on the plane.  Of course, massively obese persons get the best deal: a ride through the terminal and early boarding with other disabled individuals.

Staying active is the best way to combat the degenerative changes of aging.  Though commendable, one need not be an elderly triathlete or a pickle ball champion to obtain the benefits.  A daily walk is sufficient for most of us. 

The New River

Last October, while traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains, I was fortunate to encounter the North and South Branches of the New River in northwest North Carolina.  The New River is actually quite old, perhaps the oldest river in North America.

From the junction of its two branches in North Carolina, the New River drops into the Ridge and Valley Province of the Appalachians, flowing northeastward.  Near Radford, Virginia, the river angles to the NNW, slicing through the Appalachian Plateau of West Virginia and eventually merging with the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River, a major tributary of the Ohio.  Having completed my medical residency at West Virginia University, in Morgantown, I was fortunate to experience a couple of canoe trips on the New River back in the late Seventies.

Geologists know this ancient river as the Teays, the predecessor of the Ohio River.  Before the glacial advances of the Pleistocene, the Teays (now the New, Kanawha and central Ohio Rivers) continued to flow northwestward across Ohio and northern Indiana, eventually entering the Upper Mississippi.  When the Pleistocene ice sheets blocked that course, the Teays diverted southwestward, forming the current Ohio River Valley.  See: From Teays to Ohio 

Yellow-Rumps Stop By

Known as the "winter warbler" since they winter along both Coasts and across the southern half of the U.S., yellow-rumped warblers are primarily migrants along the Front Range urban corridor and a flock of eight turned up on our Littleton farm this morning.

Calmer than most of their cousins, these warblers are relatively easy to identify as they scour the trees and shrubs for insects, larvae and berries.  Here in Colorado, they summer and breed in the mountains (often near timberline) and travel across lower terrain as they head to and from their wintering grounds.  Massive flocks are sometimes encountered in Metro Denver in late April or May.

This morning's visitors lingered for an hour or so, relishing the sunny, cool conditions and chasing one another about the property.  Their presence is just the latest sign that winter will soon displace our late October heat wave. 

The Joy of Bushtits

Small, energetic, sociable and seemingly optimistic, bushtits are common on our Littleton farm.  Nevertheless, a flock of 18 roamed about the property this evening, one of the larger flocks that I have encountered.

Attracted by our stands of piñon pine and a wide variety of native shrubs, these tiny songbirds are not the least bit shy, often foraging within a few yards of human observers.  Their twittering is usually the first sign of their presence and they tend to wander in parade fashion, making their number easy to assess.

Finding plenty of nourishment on the trees and shrubs (insects, spiders, larvae, eggs) bushtits generally turn down human handouts but surely appreciate our effort to provide a variety of foliage.  In return, they spread joy, oblivious of the political and financial headaches that cloud the minds of humans. 

Winter Birds in Summer Weather

As in Missouri, the autumn waterfowl migration has been sluggish along the Front Range, no doubt a reflection of persistent mild weather up north.  Indeed, we expect summer-like conditions here through the week, hardly appealing to our usual winter residents.

A friend and I did encounter gadwall, American wigeon and ring-necked ducks at South Platte Park this morning where a small flock of white-crowned sparrows (also winter residents on the Colorado Piedmont) were foraging in the rabbitbrush.  In addition, I have seen a small number of dark-eyed juncos on our Littleton farm.

Though we usually get our first snowfall in Metro Denver by the end of October, the prospect for that seems rather dim this year.  For now, we'll hope that the vanguard of winter residents foreshadows more seasonable weather along the Front Range.   

A Remedy for Many Problems

If asked to recommend an activity that will improve one's physical and mental health, I would suggest frequent, solitary walks, preferably in a natural setting.  The physical benefits are most obvious, especially related to conditioning, cardiovascular health and weight control, but many will find that walking also improves the clinical response and symptoms of established medical conditions.

With regard to mental health, solitary walks offer relaxation, reduce stress and provide down time to sort through personal problems.  In addition, such walks often augment creativity (artistic or practical in nature), something to which I can personally attest; indeed, most of my writing topics are conceived during walks (this post included).

No doubt, some readers will scoff at this simple recommendation but I encourage them to give it a try.  Over time, the solitary walks will prove to be both enjoyable and beneficial.  Of course, as the ads for other therapeutic programs advise, results may vary. 

Above the Arkansas Watershed

Yesterday's flight from Dallas to Denver also offered a spectacular view of the broad Arkansas River Watershed, from the Canadian River Valley on the south to the Palmer Divide on the north.  Clear skies and bright sunshine illuminated every detail of the terrain below.

The Canadian River, the longest tributary of the Arkansas, rises in the Culebra Range at the Colorado-New Mexico border.  After flowing southeastward through eastern New Mexico, the river turns eastward, winding across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma before entering the Arkansas River beyond Eufaula Reservoir.  Farther north, the North Canadian and Cimarron Rivers rise amidst the volcanic terrain of the Raton Mesa and eventually join the Arkansas in eastern Oklahoma.

We crossed the Arkansas River at John Martin Reservoir, in southern Colorado, where the Purgatoire River enters from the southwest after draining the north side of the Raton Mesa.  The Arkansas, itself, rises along the Continental Divide near Tennessee Pass, receiving numerous tributaries from the massive Sawatch Range and the Mosquito Range before descending through its canyon and rumbling onto the Colorado Piedmont at Pueblo.  In southeastern Colorado, it takes in many more tributaries from the eastern slope of the mountains and from the southern flank of the Palmer Divide before entering Kansas.

Flashback Post XLV

Today, on a flight from Dallas to Denver, I noticed mounds of rock rising from the rolling terrain of Southwestern Oklahoma.  They were the Wichita Mountains that I wrote about back in December of 2011 but, until today, had never seen.  A visit at ground level is in order.

See: The Wichita Mountains 

Final Morning at Eagle Bluffs

On this cool, misty morning in central Missouri, I headed down to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on the Missouri River floodplain.  Despite the weather, I wanted to make one final tour of the refuge before it closes until March 1 of next year; the closure is to provide refuge for wintering waterfowl and an undisturbed killing zone for duck hunters.  To be fair, I should mention that birders and nature lovers are granted a 2-hour visit window in mid afternoon (a perfect time for birding) during the closure.

Ironically, the refuge is finally being "re-watered" after prolonged dryness due to our hot summer, a low river level and projects to reconfigure the preserve's landscape.  While the hunters may well benefit from the influx of water, there were hardly any waterfowl this morning; I only observed 13 mallards and a lone pied-billed grebe.  Fortunately, raptors were well represented, including two bald eagles, an osprey, three northern harriers, a red-tailed hawk and an American kestrel (not to mention a dozen or so turkey vultures).  I also enjoyed watching a river otter in the central channel.

Having such a "non-productive" experience on the last morning of the Eagle Bluffs birding year was frustrating.  I hope the hunters are just as fortunate. 

Redcedars invade the Great Plains

Having watched robins and waxwings feed in our eastern redcedar over the past week, I was interested in "Battling a Green Glacier" discussed in the autumn issue of Living Bird, a publication of the Cornell Ornithology Lab.  The article discusses the advance of redcedars into grassland ecosystems of the Great Plains.

Eastern redcedars, common throughout the eastern half of the U.S., are junipers and members of the Cypress Family.  Planted on the Great Plains as windbreaks and snow-fences and to beautify the landscape on farms and in towns, they are now spreading into the prairies and ranchlands.  Wildfire suppression has augmented their spread which is also mediated by avian dispersal of seeds.  Ecologists are alarmed by the loss of habitat for grasslands species and ranchers are disturbed by the loss of grazing land; both groups also point out that these woodlands accelerate the reduction of groundwater.  Of course, agriculture, industry and suburban sprawl are also responsible for grassland habitat destruction but are not discussed to any degree in this article.

Redcedars have always been pioneer trees, among the first to colonize abandoned farms and rocky glades.  The Green Glacier decried in the article is just another consequence of human impact on natural ecosystems.  We introduced the trees and suppressed wildfires.  The redcedars are just doing their thing. 

Terror & Empathy

The atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel this week must be known to the world.  So too must the victims be revealed and honored.  But how do we express empathy without augmenting the terror?

In the interest of accurate reporting, news organizations feel obliged to offer eyewitness accounts, warning viewers that the video "may be disturbing."  This approach, while valuable in the interest of truth, seems to comply with the goal of the terrorists.  Horrific videos (shown repeatedly) amplify the terror, ensuring that many viewers will remain glued to the coverage.

It seems to me that news organizations can provide details without fueling the terror.  Emphasis should be placed on the victims not on the atrocities unleashed by those who want to instill fear among the public (local or distant).  And while I applaud the courage of photojournalists, we need not see our celebrity broadcasters in helmets to understand the acute and long term ramifications of this inhumane attack.

See also: Voyeurs of Tragedy 

Autumn Chill in the Country

This morning dawned clear and almost cold in central Missouri, great conditions for a drive in the country.  Along one of my favored routes, east of Columbia, steam was rising from the lakes and the fall colors were just beginning to paint the landscape.

Flocks of mourning doves, starlings and red-winged blackbirds wheeled through the chilly air or huddled on the power lines, waiting for the bright sunshine to have its effect.  Unfazed by the cold, a lone bald eagle  raced above the farm fields, seemingly in a hurry to locate breakfast.  An American kestrel, on the other hand, patiently scanned the ground from a phone pole before swooping down to snare its victim.  Less energetic and puffed up against the chill, a quartet of eastern bluebirds were spaced along a wire, soaking in the first rays of the sun.

We naturalists all have our favorite seasons and landscapes and a country road in October is certainly high on my list.  Fortunately, three weeks remain. 

Seventy-five Years of Hate

The current violence in Israel is both tragic and predictable.  Unfortunately, it will foment even more violence, as the past seventy-five years have demonstrated.

Whomever you might support is this long conflict, one must admit that arbitrary human boundaries, racism, religion-based intolerance and cultural disrespect have fueled the hatred.  An unwillingness to accept the rights of one another is at the heart of this tragedy.  Neither party is free of blame.

It is time to focus on the children, innocent and not yet infused with hatred.  If only the adults would place their welfare above all other concerns.  War kills children too.

Roads & Rivers

When I am traveling across this country (and others), I pay close attention to the roads and the rivers.  The roads, of course, are of human design, easing our progress across the landscape and offering interconnection with a maze of routes.

Rivers are nature's highways, fed by numerous tributaries and flowing toward the sea or to a basin lake or sink.  Used by wildlife and early humans as natural routes, they remain important today as a means of transportation.  But while early man understood their significance with respect to the lay of the land, modern human travelers generally accept them as natural impediments that must be crossed by a bridge or ferry.

Those of us who are interested in geography know that rivers and their tributaries explain the topography.  We recognize when we pass from one watershed to another and come to appreciate the vast networks that feed the major waterways.  Mountains are surely beautiful and inspiring but streams have sculpted them and define their place in the overall landscape. 

First Wave of Autumn

Thunderstorms and much needed rain are moving through central Missouri this morning, the leading edge of a cold front that will bring the first pulse of autumn to the American Heartland.  Behind the front, cool, dry air will plunge southeastward, finally bringing relief to the heat-plagued Southern Plains.

Indeed, a freeze warning has been issued for the Northern Plains as overnight temperatures will plummet into the low 30s F.  Farther south, we will likely reach the mid 40s tonight, a welcome chill after our long, hot summer.

Meanwhile, ahead of this system, moisture is streaming into the Northeast where the ground is saturated and flooding is a significant concern.  Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Philippe is heading toward Maine and the Canadian Maritimes, sure to exacerbate the risk. 

The American Goose

Way back when I was a child, it was a rare event to observe a flock of wild geese, heading south in the autumn sky.  Today, Canada geese are permanent residents throughout most of the country, though their legions expand during the colder months as migrant flocks arrive from the north.

One might argue that they should be renamed; Americans Geese would seem appropriate, especially since many of them never visit Canada.  One might also suggest that they not be referred to as "wild geese" since they commonly occupy suburban parks and golf courses where they feast on artificial "grasslands," maintained by humans.

Of course, we have encouraged this transition, having replaced prairie with crop fields, enticed them with our many reservoirs and provided extensive, unused lawns for their patronage.  Then again, human-induced climate change might have the opposite effect, making their northern homeland more inviting after all.  

Ethics, Trust & Justice

Can we trust individuals who shun the concept of ethics?  Can justice prevail when decisions are made by unethical persons?  Can we expect justice from those we cannot trust?

These questions arise in light of the Supreme Court's apparent belief that ethical standards are unnecessary, even as Justice Thomas has received significant financial gifts and support from those who have benefited from his decisions.

When members of the Supreme Court are willing to skirt the law, how can we expect the average American to respect it?  It is time to force ethical standards on the Court and to prosecute those who have betrayed our trust.  Supreme Court Justices are not immune to equal treatment under the law.

Will November replace October?

For as long as I can remember, October has been my favorite month.  Mild, dry, sunny days and clear, cool nights have been the norm, augmented by colorful foliage and energized wildlife.

Will climate change alter this scenario?  Today, we expect a high temperature in the 90s F here in central Missouri.  Fall colors have been muted by excessive heat and, in some areas of the country, by excessive precipitation.  While songbirds migrate in response to the solar cycle, most waterfowl move south as lakes, ponds and wetlands freeze over up north; exceptionally warm weather will likely delay that autumn spectacle and, eventually, cancel it altogether.

In other words, November may become the old October as global warming slows the progression to winter.  For now, once the heat abates, we'll enjoy this glorious month.