Survivors

History is replete with the stories of individuals who overcame trauma to lead a happy and successful life.  Child abuse, failed relationships, serious injuries and potentially fatal illnesses are among the more common conditions that are cited.

Eager to hear or read about these inspiring individuals, consumers are fed the basic timeline without too much detail.  Indeed, in the interest of privacy, most of the story is never told and future complications are beyond the context of the report.  In fact, recovery from major trauma and severe illness is rarely complete; in the course of that public miracle, private issues persist, often leading to substance abuse, depression and stress-related disorders.  Individuals treated successfully for a major medical condition often deal with the side-effects of therapy, sometimes developing other illnesses that were spawned by the original treatment.

Surviving trauma or illness is an ongoing process, one that generally endures throughout the life of that individual.  Efforts to simplify the story suggest otherwise and often fuel unrealistic expectations.  

Time for G.W. to Speak Up

Former President George Walker Bush, often referred to as G.W. to distinguish him from his father, has declined to endorse a Presidential candidate in this election.  His staff reports that he has left Presidential Politics in the past; has he also renounced his American citizenship?

Some might be pleased that he has declined to endorse Trump but that is the passive way to avoid controversy and potential criticism.  While many past Republican stalwarts have endorsed Kamala Harris, acknowledging that another Trump term would threaten both our Democracy and our global alliances, G.W. has not displayed such courage.

It is time for our past President to rise from his easel and put his substantial influence behind the Harris/Walz ticket.  Ignoring that responsibility, however close the election might be, will further diminish his status in American history. 

Passive Landscaping

Those of us not inclined toward excessive weeding, mulching and trimming find solace in passive landscaping: turning over the job to Nature herself.  Should you decide to take this approach, be mindful that lawn cover must be minimized and the use of herbicides and pesticides are forbidden.

Nature is not a neat tenant and you must get used to a hodgepodge of native plants in your flower beds and wood borders.  Resisting the urge to pull out "weeds" may be your greatest hurdle.  Then again, you will appreciate the free time that passive landscaping affords.

One of the many rewards of this "hands-off" approach is that new plants begin to appear on your property and many of these are quite attractive; the rough white asters in the photo just appeared this month, a welcome addition to the flora on our farm.  Finally, a naturalized yard requires far less water, an especially valuable trait in arid and semiarid ecosystems.

 

Rabbitbrush

Not terribly skilled at landscaping, my primary technique is to bring seed back from natural areas that I visit and spread it across open soil on our farm.  Of course, this approach takes patience.

Several years ago, I threw rabbitbrush seed along our driveway, where pockets of chokecherry and New Mexico locust are interrupted by dry soil.  Voila!  This spring, clumps of the rabbitbrush appeared and are now flowering (photo).

I hoped to establish rabbitbrush on our property due to its autumn display and since it attracts a variety of ground-feeding birds, including white-crowned and Harris' sparrows.  Of course, these bushy clusters will thrive (and likely spread) without my assistance.  No irrigation or fertilizing necessary!

Year of the Pear

When we purchased our Littleton, Colorado, farm, back in 1990, we noted a full-grown pear tree along one of the pastures.  Over the years, it has produced pears that are often sparse and small; even that has been an accomplishment since late spring freezes often wipe out the blossoms.

This year, we have a magnificent crop of large pears, the most successful season to date.  Though I am not especially fond of the fruit, I'll disperse some before the raccoons get more than their fare share.

Native to Europe and Asia, there are more than 3000 cultivars across the globe.  Some European pear trees are said to live 50 years or more and ours must be pushing its limit.  Considering the fact that we do not water our larger trees, that is some feat in this semiarid climate.

Francine tests NOLA's Pumps

As Hurricane Francine comes ashore, early this afternoon, her counterclockwise winds will pull copious amounts of rain in from the Gulf of Mexico.  New Orleans lies in the projected path of that firehose and, unlike other coastal cities of the U.S., it lies below sea level.

Following the disaster produced by Hurricane Katrina, the city invested in a system of water pumps that are designed to handle up to 1 inch of rainfall per hour.  Since Francine is currently "only" a Category 1 Hurricane, it is hoped that extensive flooding can be avoided; unfortunately, the soil of southern Louisiana is already saturated due to recent heavy rains, increasing the risk of flooding.  Fortunately, the pumps are on their own power grid and will not be affected by more widespread power outages.

Nevertheless, landfalling tropical storms and hurricanes have recently over-produced when it comes to flooding.  Warmer air and warmer sea water, the products of climate change, augment the humidity of the onshore flow and, should Francine slow down, the rainfall in NOLA could exceed the capacity of its pump network.  We should know by later in the day.  

The Tourism Dilemma

For wealthy countries across the globe, tourism is an important component of their economy and every effort is made to boost that activity.  For small and "developing" countries, the choice of encouraging tourism is more controversial, as we learned during our visit to the remote Faroe Islands.

While the economic benefits might be welcome, the effects on local communities is often mixed,  Proper tourism infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, transport, trails etc.) must be in place, disrupting the character of small towns and rural communities.  Congestion, noise, habitat damage and pollution are all potential complications.

Anyone who visits scenic natural areas, however remote, soon learns that company can always be expected.  Tourism is big business and too many people on a modest-sized planet ensures plenty of competition.  The quest for solitude is now strictly within the purview of determined individuals. 

Common Green Darners

Yesterday afternoon, a common green darner was zooming about our front yard.  Easily identified by its large size and thick, green thorax, this dragonfly is common throughout most of North America and is known for its seasonal migrations, often in large swarms.  On the other hand, some green darners do not migrate at all, wintering as aquatic larvae in ponds.

Autumn migrations, generally to Florida or Mexico, begin by September and spring migrants usually appear by April, often arriving before non-migrant darners emerge from the water.  Of course, as with monarch butterflies and other migrant insects, those returning from the subtropics are the offspring of those that migrated southward in the fall.

Both the adult darners and their aquatic nymphs play an important role in controlling mosquito populations.  For that and for their aerial displays, we humans are grateful. 

Polls, Fear & Money

Another morning and I open my email to find 10 requests for money to combat the surging MAGA scourge.  Turning on the news, I hear that another "respected poll" demonstrates that the Presidential race is a dead-heat; a discussion by political experts will follow after a few money-making commercials.

While I strongly support Kamala Harris, it is nauseatingly clear that both political parties and all news programs are using poll reports to stoke fear and raise money.  Yet, throughout U.S. history, political polls have been inaccurate on many occasions; remember the "red-wave" projections in 2022?

I refuse to believe that a majority of Americans would place an aging, narcissistic, misogynistic, career criminal back in office; if so, then our Democracy is already doomed.  My advice is to ignore the polls and emails and make sure to vote.  I will not attempt to raise any money through this post but I will cut the subscription rate in half for those who perform their civic duty. 

Waxwing Spectacle

Cedar waxwings, among my favorite songbirds, often gather in large flocks during the fall and winter months, a behavior that facilitates their discovery of food sources.  However, early September is generally a bit too soon to observe such congregations.

Nevertheless, I encountered at least 120 of these attractive wanderers yesterday morning, at Phillips Lake in southeast Columbia.  Despite the steady encroachment of residential and retail development, the waxwings must have found something of interest in the trees along the lakeshore.  As my wife and I hiked along the graveled loop trail, they were observed in every lakeside grove; unlike noisy flocks of robins or blackbirds, the waxwings were politely quiet, save for an occasional soft whistle.

While we were fortunate to observe this waxwing spectacle, the eBird computers questioned my report (not an unusual occurrence).  Rather than argue the point, I'll take the waxwing approach: calm cooperation. 

Flashback Post LVII

Following yet another mass shooting in a school, this time in Georgia, it seems appropriate to republish a post from February of 2018.  Unfortunately, that post speaks to dozens of incidents over the past decade, an American trend that will continue to haunt the minds of parents and their children.

See: Thoughts and Prayers 

Turbulence Overhead

On this mild autumn evening, I went out back to search the sky for migrating nighthawks.  That goal was quickly abandoned as my attention was drawn to waves of cirrus clouds, pummeled by high altitude winds.  Stretched into long tendrils, curled into tight eddies and whipped into merging forms, the icy bands of moisture zipped across the fading blue of early dusk.

While we often admire the brilliant colors of sunrise and sunset or stop to watch a powerful storm drift across the sky, we generally ignore the atmospheric dynamics that unfold overhead.  We may note that it is a clear or cloudy day but, unlike children, tend not to be amused by changing figures in the sky.  Though mesmerized by pounding waves, churning rapids or graceful waterfalls, we miss the drama high above our own backyards.

This evening's show was spectacular.  Unfortunately, the nighthawks failed to appear. 

Gateway to Autumn

September is historically a rather mild month across central latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.  Following a long, hot summer, it has offered a steady transition toward the cool weather of October.

From a birder's point of view, it is also a transition month as early autumn migrants turn up in our woods and wetlands.  Blue-winged teal, common nighthawks, broad-winged hawks, shorebirds and a variety of warblers are among these seasonal travelers.

Today, conditions in Columbia mirrored that expectation.  Sunny skies, mild, crystal-clear air and a gentle, northerly breeze, hinted of the coming season.  For outdoor people, autumn is the best time of year; we can only hope that global warming does not tarnish that reputation.