American Justice Prevails

The unanimous conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts breathes fresh air into the health of America's justice system.  Despite the machinations of the Supreme Court and the deranged objections of the Conservative Right, he will face sentencing for his crimes on July 11.

The judge and jurors, the heroes of this historic conviction, will surely endure harsh criticism from Trump and his political cronies but they deserve the sincere gratitude of all who support American Democracy.  Coming on the heels of Trump's civil convictions for sexual assault and business fraud, this judgment should signal the demise of his poisonous political power.

Whether the Republican Party will continue to support Trump as their Presidential Nominee remains to be seen.  If so, the final verdict will come in November. 

Snowy Egrets

Yesterday morning, I encountered my first snowy egret of the season at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.  Uncommon migrants and summer visitors in Central Missouri, they are easily distinguished from great egrets by their smaller size, black bill, yellow feet and a more active feeding style.

Both snowy and great egrets are best found along southern coasts of the U.S.; while great egrets are common summer residents along the Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River Valleys (and are also rather common in the Great Lakes Region), inland snowy egrets are found primarily in the Western U.S.  Indeed, snowy egrets are far more common than great egrets along the Colorado Front Range.

Of course, this distinction may become invalid as our climate warms.  As with many other avian species, their seasonal ranges will likely shift northward and their presence will relate more to suitable habitat than to latitude.  For now, here in Missouri, we'll enjoy spotting the occasional snowy egret among flocks of their larger cousins.

Eagle Bluffs Farm

Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain, southwest of Columbia, is renowned as a birdwatching destination (as per many of my past posts) and recognized as a model project for natural wastewater management.  Many mammals also reside at the refuge, including river otters.

Unfortunately, the vast wetlands at Eagle Bluffs are gradually transitioning to crop fields, a disturbing development for those of us who care about protecting natural ecosystems.  Small parcels of corn or soybean seem reasonable, especially as food sources for wildlife and migrant waterfowl, but this floodplain refuge is slowly but steadily converting to farmland, reminiscent of the Great Plains.

Perhaps I am overreacting to a grand management scheme but the change has become painfully obvious.  One wonders whether the city needs money generated by the crop production.  As for the loss of wetlands, what else is new?  

Flashback Post LIII

Memorial Day is a "holiday" that engenders mixed feelings in many Americans, a fact that I attempted to express back in 2010.

See: Forgetting to Remember 

The Easy Songbirds

I have been pleased to discover that my middle grandson has retained his interest in birdwatching, a pastime that his older brother quickly abandoned.  Having worked our way through the larger, easy to identify residents of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (raptors, herons, egrets etc.), as well as the common waterfowl, we are now venturing into the less exotic world of songbirds.

On this morning's trip, I decided to concentrate on those that are both colorful and conspicuous.  These included indigo buntings, common yellowthroats, American goldfinches and dickcissels, all of which like to sing from an exposed perch and are not especially skittish.  Indeed, adding four new species to his life list proved to be quite easy.

Down the line, if his interest holds, we'll eventually get to those tricky grassland sparrows, which, after almost fifty years of birding, I still have trouble identifying.  Until then, we'll continue to focus on the easy songbirds (to encourage his enthusiasm and protect my dignity).

Let it Be

More than fifty years ago, Paul McCartney wrote and sang about his mother's advice when he was troubled.  That advice seems especially pertinent today.

Overwhelmed by bad news on cable TV and deluged with disinformation online, we need to Let it Be.  Far too much of our time is consumed by purveyors of fear.  Unfortunately, many of us also dwell on the painful comments and actions of others (real or perceived) that have poisoned our happiness over the years. 

The solution to this personal stress is to focus on what we can control: our own responsibilities and interests.  Less time watching TV, surfing the web and staring at our smart phones is the primary cure but abandoning our preoccupation with past injustices is just as important. 

Choice & Consequence

Our lives can be viewed as a long series of choices, beginning as we are granted a certain degree of independence during childhood.  Most of these choices are minor while some are decidedly life-changing.

As always, each choice is associated with consequences; some (perhaps most) are clearly good while a few may prove to be disastrous.  Regardless of the consequences, we must own them and, to the extent possible, try to rectify any mistakes.

Those of us old enough to look back on our life can easily identify the significant choices that we made; such a review usually leads to a mix of satisfaction and regret.  In response, we try to advise our children and grandchildren as they make their own choices, an endeavor that often has mixed results.  Thus the cycle of choice and consequence continues.

Summer Arrives in May

The recent heat and humidity in Missouri seem to portend a long, hot summer.  Combined with our current "plague" of cicadas, the conditions are almost biblical.

Of course, the sultry air often fuels severe thunderstorms, some of which are due to arrive later today.  Though recent storms have put a significant dent in our long-term drought, the risk of tornados, flash floods and large hail diminish that benefit.

As is often the case, the Southern States have borne the brunt of this violent spring and the prospects for an active and destructive hurricane season appear to be rising.  Despite the waning pronouncements of skeptics, climate change is rapidly changing the nature of our seasons. 

Sex & Procreation

Last evening, I watched thousands of periodic cicadas swarm our large deciduous trees.  Blue jays and starlings turned up to munch on a few while flocks of chimney swifts devoured those that strayed above the treetops.  

Gathering to mate, the cicadas' behavior is purely instinctual; like almost all animals, they do not understand its purpose.  They have no concept of parents and will never see their children.  Yet, their behavior is an important cog in nature's cycle of life.

We humans, endowed with a large brain, have long understood the relationship between sex and procreation.  We have also come to recognize the importance of sexual activity beyond its role in perpetuating our species.  Unfortunately, certain segments of human society (religious and political) want us to function like cicadas; in their minds, sex is purely a procreative act and any behavior that disrupts this association is sinful, illegal or both. 

Companionship

When we consider the evolution of romantic relationships, sexual attraction gets a lot of attention, as it should.  But, in my opinion, companionship ends up playing the crucial role.

The opportunity and willingness to spend time together, share experiences, express personal goals, voice our fears and learn from one another are what sustain relationships.  Companionship fuels cooperation, compromise, mutual respect and a lasting commitment.

Of course, this all takes time and, too often, relationships fail as the initial passion fades.  If companionship is not highly valued, an enduring romance is never in the cards.

Feasting on Cicadas

This morning, a flock of six Mississippi kites skimmed the treetops in our neighborhood, feasting on the countless cicadas.  Such a windfall of nutrition does not go wasted in nature.

The periodic cicadas seem to be reaching their peak emergence, landing on anything or anyone that they encounter.  As I worked in the yard today, I regularly brushed them from my cap or shoulders and they (or their exoskeleton) adorned almost every plant on our property.

As for the kites, which seem to be increasingly common summer residents in Central Missouri, the slow-moving cicadas are easy targets.  After filling their bellies, they ascended to higher altitudes, soaring above the city and letting other, less agile birds attack the hapless insects.

Integrity & Politics

Integrity is the commitment to live by one's ethical and moral principles, regardless of the circumstances.  Of course, persons of integrity may change their position on certain issues when new information is brought to their attention.

There is perhaps no better group of individuals who clearly manifest integrity (or lack thereof) than politicians, whose job depends totally on the whims and interests of their constituents.  While some abide by their principles, whether liberal or conservative, many (if not most) twist in the wind of public opinion and pressure.

Currently, a group of Republican Congressmen, most of whom have strongly criticized and openly despised Donald Trump in the past, are vying for the opportunity to be his running mate.  Though Trump has not changed, they have abandoned their own principles, willing to support his dangerous policies.  By doing so, they demonstrate their personal lack of integrity.  

Summer Guests at Phillips Lake

Despite the continued encroachment of commercial and residential development, the woodlands and fields around Phillips Lake (southeast of Columbia) attract an excellent variety of songbirds.  While most are permanent residents, seasonal residents and visitors are also found at the shrinking refuge.

On this cloudy, mild morning, I encountered some of my first summer residents of the year.  These included a great crested flycatcher, indigo buntings and several blue grosbeaks.  Of most interest was a Mississippi kite, soaring above the lake, perhaps the first I have ever observed at the Park.

One of the more rewarding aspects of birding is that your quarry changes throughout the year.  Of course, the avian diversity is especially large during the spring and fall migrations and the former has not yet ended. 

Flashback Post LII

As war rages overseas and political conflict disrupts American society, it seems appropriate to revive a post from 2010.  Happy Mother's Day to the peacemakers of human civilization!

See: Natural Peacemakers 

Aurora Watch

Last evening, my wife and I found ourselves on a remote country road in northeast Colorado, waiting in the chilly air for the fiery sunset to fade from the western sky.  Joined by a skittish flock of horned larks and serenaded by a clan of coyotes, we were anxious to see the first signs of the Aurora Borealis that was forecast to reach northern and central latitudes of the U.S.  Biding or time, we watched the crescent moon descend toward the Rockies as a parade of aircraft headed for Denver International Airport.

Remaining in place for two hours, we did observe a broad swath of faint color across the northern horizon (photo by my wife), which was more evident on photos than with the human eye.  Not nearly as dramatic as those sent in by family and friends in other parts of the country, we'll still take it as a success.

After all, we have sought the Northern Lights in Iceland, Newfoundland, Scotland, Northern Michigan, Vancouver Island and Southeastern Alaska without success.  Since the peak of the 11-year solar cycle occurs in July of 2025, more opportunities will surely arise (at least we hope so).  

Songsters at South Platte Park

On this cloudy, cool, humid morning, a friend and I observed an excellent variety of birds at South Platte Park, dominated by hundreds of violet-green swallows.  Since the wind was calm, the resident and migrant songbirds were especially noisy and active.

In addition to more common species, we encountered American white pelicans, western grebes, a bald eagle and a hermit thrush.  Joining the many songsters (yellow and yellow-rumped warblers, house wrens, spotted towhees and gray catbirds) in a lakeside woodland were four yellow-breasted chats, the first I have heard this spring.  I also observed a pair of Swainson's thrushes (headed for the mountains or Canada) and an eastern phoebe (rare along the Front Range).

Though we have not yet escaped our risk for snow, this morning's songsters offered reassurance that spring has finally taken hold in Metro Denver.  Late migrants, including western tanagers, will likely confirm that fact over the next week or so. 

Daniels Park

On this sunny, cool, breezy day, my wife and I took a walk at Daniels Park.  Stretching atop a high ridge south of Denver, the Park offers a spectacular view of the Front Range, from Pike's Peak to the Wyoming border.  Closer in (to the west) is the dissected terrain of the Plum Creek Valley and, to the north, Metro Denver sprawls across the Colorado Piedmont.

A bison herd, fenced in from the public, roams meadows along the central roadway and elk are often observed at the Park; of course, mule deer and other common mammals also inhabit the walls of the ridge and an interesting mix of birds, including golden eagles. is usually encountered.  Today, spotted towhees called from the cliffside shrubs, a pair of mountain bluebirds foraged near the trail and a bald eagle soared above the valley.

Residential areas have encroached on the Park since my last visit (many years ago) but it remains an interesting site for naturalists and offers a unique perspective of Front Range topography. 

Frost Advisory in May

The storm system that has produced tornadic thunderstorms across the Great Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes Region over the past few days, has raked the Colorado Front Range with gusty, west winds.  As the central zone of low pressure continues to push eastward, our winds will abate and a calm, chilly night is expected.

Indeed, a frost advisory has been issued for Metro Denver, with an overnight low anticipated in the low 30s F.  Those who live at lower elevations across the Central and Eastern U.S. might be surprised by this forecast but snow and freezing temperatures are not unusual here through mid May.

On the other hand, the mountain corridor generally protects us from the tornados that have caused devastation to our east.  Peak tornado activity in Colorado occurs in June and is most common on the plains of Northeastern Colorado.  However, Front Range cities are especially prone to hail storms; a frost advisory is the least of our concerns in late spring. 

Cicada Armageddon

This spring, periodic cicada brood XIII, in the Midwest, and periodic cicada brood XIX, across the Southeast, will emerge together for the first time in 200 years.  Unlike annual cicadas, which are noisy but are otherwise shrugged off as a minor nuisance, periodic cicada broods can be deafening and pose some significant problems.

While they do not bite and are not poisonous, they can cause vegetation damage.  Domestic pets can develop intestinal obstruction if they consume too many of these tasty insects and humans can be injured if they slip on the decaying carcasses.  But the cicadas offer a windfall of nutrition for many birds and mammals and, in death, return nutrients to the soil and plants.

Brood XIII, 17-year cicadas, hatched in 2007, while brood XIX are 13-year cicadas that hatched in 2011.  The hatchlings drop from the trees in which their eggs were laid and burrow into the soil; finding a rootlet, they spend almost all of their life in the dark, drawing nutrition from that appendage.  When the larvae finally emerge, they crawl up a tree trunk and molt to their adult stage; adults, which do not feed, live only long enough to attract mates (hence the noise), mate and lay eggs. 

 

Zapotec Exhibit in Denver

Responding to the recommendation of a friend, my wife and I visited Denver's beautiful Botanical Gardens this morning to see a traveling exhibit of eight sculptures, representing figures from the spirit world of the Zapotec Civilization.  This culture arose in southern Mexico about 2500 years ago, stretching across the territory now occupied by the State of Oaxaca.

The colorful figures, molded from fiberglass and colored with acrylic paint, are spaced throughout the Botanical Gardens, featuring hybrid animals that played a role in Zapotec astrology.  Whether visitors are interested in anthropology or not, the artwork from Jacobo and Maria Angeles' Oaxaca workshop is stunning.

As with other Pre-Columbian, early Mesoamerican cultures, the Zapotec Civilization was a polytheistic, symbol-oriented society that engaged in rituals, including human sacrifice.  However, the culture was also technologically sophisticated, utilizing irrigation, writing, art and architectural design.  It ended with the arrival of Spanish Conquistadors in 1521.

Biden's Bully Pulpit

The President of the United States has the most powerful and effective bully pulpit on the planet.  Unfortunately, despite the threats to our Democracy, Biden has failed to use it.

While he has been praised for his State of Union address, he has, to date, passed on the opportunity to confront major issues by speaking to the nation.  As a result, crises such as immigration at the Southern Border and the current upheaval on college campuses have left the impression that our country is out of control.  Such negligence only fuels the effectiveness of MAGA propaganda.

Facing a national election in six months, it is time for Biden to use his bully pulpit to directly explain his Administration's positions and policies.  Leaving that vital job to the "news media," much of which comes in the form of online disinformation, will only benefit the enemies of Democracy.  

Colorful May in Colorado

Since snowstorms and periods of cold weather characterize March and April along the Colorado Front Range, May is generally the most colorful month of the year.  Even typically early flowers, such as grape hyacinths and tulips, grace this last month of meteorologic spring.

Our Littleton farm is more colorful than it has been in years.  Purple mustard and dandelions adorn the "lawns" while lilac, wild plum, Oregon grape and chokecherry shrubs are also in bloom.  The apple and crabapple trees are just about to flower and various roses will adorn the property before the month ends.

Since the abundant moisture of March and April fuels this growth, the greenery of our pastures, shrubs and small trees is also lush and will spread across the canopy of the taller trees as the month progresses.  Late day thunderstorms, typical of May and June, will nurture this colorful landscape until it all fades in the dry heat of July and early August.  Fortunately, the Southwest Monsoon arrives by late summer, rescuing our plants from the intense Colorado sunshine.