The Hardy Plover

Walking at Forum Nature Area, in Columbia, on this cold, windy morning, my wife and I came across five killdeer, foraging on an icy lake bed.  A few shallow pools that still dot the floodplain were their primary hunting zones, likely offering a mix of aquatic invertebrates and larvae for their breakfast.

Unlike other plovers that depart for southern latitudes to spend the winter months, killdeer are content to remain across the southern half of the U.S. and northward along the coastal plains.  Those that summered in these areas are joined by killdeer that bred across Canada and the northern U.S.

In all seasons, killdeer prefer open country, from beaches to fields, pastures and grasslands.  Invertebrates and their larvae comprise the great majority of their diet, though seeds and small fish are also consumed.  Oblivious of the winds that rake their hunting grounds, they look out of place in wintry landscapes.

Flashback Post LX

Over the 18 years of writing this Blog, I have written many posts for Thanksgiving.  Perhaps the most succinct yet meaningful of all was published on Thanksgiving Day of 2009.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

See: Thanks to Nature 

Too Pleasant for Ducks

Birders tend to associate waterfowl migration with the cool, rainy weather of March or the cold, blustery days of November.  On this warm, sunny afternoon, the conditions seemed to be too pleasant for ducks.

Indeed, back at Eagle Bluffs for a third week, a friend and I saw only a few dozen mallards, a dozen northern shovelers, a half-dozen coot and two pied-billed grebes; to be completely honest, we did see about 60 ducks on a secluded lake that were too distant to identify.  An adult bald eagle and three red-tailed hawks were our concession sightings. 

It has surely been an unusual fall migration in the Missouri River Valley.  Early on, the floodplain was kept too dry to attract waterfowl and now, as marsh-lined channels, shallow lakes and flooded fields cover the refuge, migrants have been slow to arrive; one must conclude that the weather up north has been too mild to send them south or that they have simply used other migration rest stops. Could we be witnessing the effects of climate change or just a confluence of factors (natural and man-induced)?  

Texas promotes Christianity

While their State Government has abused immigrants and ignored the rights of pregnant women, Texans are now being encouraged to follow the teachings of Jesus.  Bible study (encompassing both the Old and New Testaments) will be an "option" for public schools; special funding will be made available to those schools who accept the opportunity.  Of course, one suspects participation will become mandatory down the line.

As with Trump's personal Bible sales, this policy dismisses the separation of Church and State that has been an essential component of our Constitution.  More than promoting religious freedom for Christians, it discriminates against members of other religions and imposes faith on those children raised in non-religious families.

The Christian majority of Texas should not subject others to their cherished beliefs.  Christianity, like all religions, has exhibited a dark side throughout its history; I doubt those elements will be taught to young, impressionable minds.  Freedom from religion is just as important as freedom of religion and should be respected at all levels of government.

Flashback Post LIX

Acorns, whole or crushed, cover our Columbia driveway and many of the streets in our neighborhood, bringing to mind a post from November of 2009.

See: A Mast Bonanza

Bomb Cyclone strikes Pacific Northwest

A "bomb cyclone," the meteorologic term for a rapidly intensifying low pressure system, is off the coast of British Columbia this morning, directing its counterclockwise winds across Northern California, Oregon and Washington.  Pulling in an "atmospheric river" of moisture from the Pacific, the storm is expected to stay offshore for the next few days, producing strong winds, flooding rains and deep mountain snow across the region.

Much like a tropical storm, its damage will relate to both its strength and its duration and, at this point, the jet stream will keep it in place.  While dousing wildfires throughout the Pacific Northwest, the storm will surely unleash river flooding, landslides, avalanches and widespread power outages.

Global warming is not just a threat to southern latitudes.  The warmer seas and energized atmosphere will fuel destructive storms in northern regions as well.  This bomb cyclone is just the latest evidence of that fact. 

Human Relationships

We humans are social creatures and even though some of us cherish (if not require) periods of solitude, our lives are defined by a long series of relationships.  Indeed, an inability to form and sustain relationships, usually due to psychological or psychiatric problems, leads to social dysfunction and, in extreme cases, severe depression and suicide.

Of course, there is a hierarchy of relationships in our lives, reflected by the degree of influence that they have.  Partners, family members, close friends and past lovers are certainly high on that list but mentors, teachers, colleagues and even casual relationships impact our lives.  It is no surprise that novels, movies, plays and stories that focus on human relationships tend to be most acclaimed.

There are some individuals who choose the hermit's life, swearing off the importance of others.  But they likely fall into the group mentioned above, having endured an abusive childhood or an especially painful loss.  For the rest of us, relationships are vital to our welfare, even those that may not end in storybook fashion. 

A Modest Pickup at Eagle Bluffs

On our weekly visit to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, limited by a two-hour birding window and restricted access within the refuge, a friend and I noted a pickup in the autumn waterfowl migration yesterday afternoon.  We encountered about 120 individuals, dominated by mallards, coot, green-winged teal and pied-billed grebes.

No migrant geese, pelicans or cormorants were observed, though we did see an immature bald eagle, a red-tailed hawk and three northern harriers.  Red-winged blackbirds offered the only true spectacle as large flocks moved among the trees.

The sluggish autumn waterfowl migration may accelerate in the coming week as cold, north winds develop on the backside of the Pacific storm that is crossing the Heartland.  Migrants often take advantage of a strong tailwind and the temperature drop up north may be an incentive to head south. 

Widespread Drought Relief

The latest Pacific storm system, currently centered over North Texas, will track northeastward this week, bringing welcome relief to many drought-plagued areas.  Today, its trailing cold front is expected to ignite strong thunderstorms (with possible tornados and flooding rains) across the Southern Plains.

By tomorrow, the rains will fall primarily across the Midwest while the Great Lakes and Upper Ohio Valley can expect significant precipitation by mid week.  Finally, before moving out to sea, the front is forecast to bring much needed rain to New England, where wildfires continue to develop.

As the lower section of this storm front moves eastward along the Gulf Coast, it is expected to sweep copious moisture from Tropical Storm Sara across that region and the Florida Peninsula.  Meanwhile, much cooler air will drop south behind the storm as the next Pacific system brings rain and snow to the Northwest. 

Conservation in the Trump Era

Facing four years of "leadership" by Donald Trump and his cronies, we know that conservation will be ignored.  After all, Trump's knowledge of nature is limited to the layout of his golf courses.  What will happen to the Environmental Protection Agency is anyone's guess but we certainly can't expect adequate funding.

The extension of drilling permits (despite a current glut of fossil fuel) and a significant cutback on agricultural and industrial regulations are almost certain to occur.  Further impacts on natural ecosystems can be expected and efforts to reign in climate change will likely be ignored by an Administration that largely denies the existence of global warming.

Those of us who care about the environment must double down on our efforts by supporting Conservation organizations and by voting with our wallets when dealing with private companies.  Volunteer work is always an option and our participation in public demonstrations may sway politicians who will need our midterm votes.  Four years of hope is not an option. 

Self-Criticism in Defeat

Having returned the Presidency to a despicable human being, Democrats are throwing out reasons for their defeat.  Some are reasonable, such as their foreshortened campaign and an over-reliance on celebrity endorsements.  But there is, in my opinion, too much talk about excessive attention on and support for "woke" issues.

Are they suggesting that human rights are a distraction?  Should we ignore the white supremacy movement, attacks on gay bars, widespread antisemitism, violence against Asians and the ridicule directed at transexuals?  Need we support efforts to eliminate the teaching of black history in public schools?  Should libraries be policed by god-fearing Christians?  Though Democrats reached consensus on a border policy with Republican Senators, did we not go far enough to keep "vermin" out of the country?  Should we have signed on to Trump's deportation agenda?  Must we "move beyond" our focus on reproductive rights and the mitigation of climate change?  Is access to quality healthcare not a human right?  Should we give up hope for a reasonable approach to gun control?  Need we ignore genocide wherever it occurs across the globe?

Though I am an Independent who leans toward fiscal conservatism, the Democratic Party must remain the champion of human rights, environmentalism and personal freedom.  Vigilance and court challenges will be imperative over the next four years.  It is not the time to back away from our longstanding commitment to social justice. 

A Fellow Diner

Late yesterday afternoon, as we sat down for dinner on our back deck, I noticed a red-shouldered hawk in a magnolia tree, less than twenty feet away.  He had begun dining before we did, a long, young snake dangling from his beak.

He was either unfazed by our presence or too engaged in his own meal to take notice.  His prey continued to wriggle about for a few minutes before the raptor sucked it down like a strand of pasta.  Once the meal settled in his stomach, the hawk flew down to our back fence, searching the ground for his next course.

Red-shouldered hawks are known to favor riparian woodlands, where they hunt from a perch for small mammals, songbirds, frogs, lizards and snakes.  While our local buteo is always welcome to join us for dinner, we must insist that he bring his own meal. 

The Leaf Cowboys

We know them well.  We recognize their pickups.  They were in the neighborhood all spring and summer, ensuring that their customers' lawns grew no more than an inch before they were trimmed.

Now they are back, pulling vacuum-equipped trailers and armed with powerful leaf blowers.  The incessant noise of their activity will echo through the neighborhood for the next month or more as they corral every leaf that dares to fall on the green carpets.

For those who employ these leaf cowboys, owning a rake or building a compost bin is unnecessary.  And any natural fertilization that is lost through their work will be spread by these same crews next spring.  Just sit back and relax; you may want to have your headphones available when outside.

More Water, Few Ducks

A friend and I took advantage of the "birding window" at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this afternoon.  During our limited tour, we were pleased to find that most of the refuge has been re-flooded but were dismayed by the small number and variety of waterfowl.

Indeed, during our one-hour visit, we saw only 30 mallards, a couple of dozen American coot, a handful of ruddy ducks, five pied-billed grebes and a few green-winged teal.  Other sightings included an immature bald eagle, a Cooper's hawk and a lone great blue heron.

I suspect the weather has been too warm up north to encourage waterfowl to migrate southward; even American white pelicans and double-crested cormorants seem to be resisting the urge to travel.  We plan to check the refuge weekly and I will report on our observations. 

East of Grand Island

Continuing my detour through Nebraska, I left Grand Island and headed east on Interstate 80 this morning.  Since the Platte River is well north of the highway east of that city, the landscape took on the characteristics that one associates with the Great Plains.

Broad views of relatively flat terrain, quilted with crop fields and grasslands, extended north and south of the highway; trees were primarily limited to homesteads, small towns and creek beds.  As I approached Lincoln, the topography became more hilly, trees were more abundant and the streams were larger and more numerous; of course, this change reflected the fact that I was entering the western edge of the American Midwest, where annual precipitation is greater than it is on the Great Plains.

Finally, I crossed the lower Platte River thirty miles west of Omaha.  Much larger than its braided, western section, the Platte would soon empty into the Missouri; both rivers originate from tributaries that rise in the snowfields on the Eastern Slope of the Continental Divide.   

Detour through Nebraska

A snowstorm was raging for a second day along the Colorado Front Range as I prepared to return to Missouri this morning; in fact, Interstate 70 was closed east of Denver.  Checking the radar, I decided to head northeast on I-76 and left the snow behind within 20 miles of departing the Metro Area.

Once in Nebraska, I drove east on Interstate 80 where, in North Platte, the North and South Platte Rivers merge to form the Platte River.  The highway parallels this river, crossing its braided channels and numerous irrigation canals.  Many small lakes, ponds and wetlands are also spaced along the Platte River Valley.

Wildlife sightings on my northern detour included prairie falcons in northeast Colorado and many flocks of migrant gulls and ducks in the Platte River Valley; red-tailed hawks and a couple of bald eagles were also observed in trees near the river.  Though I hoped to encounter tardy flocks of sandhill cranes, which stage on the Platte (especially in early spring), none were seen from the highway.  After a night in Grand Island, I'll continue my journey to Missouri in the morning. 

A Sad Day in America

Unbelievably, the majority of Americans (at least the majority of those who cared to vote) have re-elected a supreme narcissist and would-be dictator, who should have been charged with sedition four years ago.  One wonders whether this vast populace truly feels aggrieved by American Democracy or are merely demonstrating their greed, racism and misogyny.

Facing four more years of Trumpism, one doubts that he will do anything to re-unite the country, let alone strengthen our alliances across the globe.  Freed from Federal charges that may have put him in prison, he will seek revenge on those who launched the investigations and led the prosecutions.  His staff and Cabinet appointees are bound to be chosen primarily based on their loyalty to Our Dear Leader.

Unable to rely on the Federal Government, we must now direct our support toward organizations that defend human rights and protect the environment while preparing for relentless attacks on truth and on our Democracy.

A Late Dusting of Snow

Light rain overnight turned to even lighter snow this morning, leaving a white dusting on our Littleton farm.  While we will take any precipitation that we can get, this atmospheric gift will not begin to dent our ongoing drought.  Worse yet, this meager amount of snow is about two weeks late compared to the average first snowfall in Metro Denver.

Fortunately, a significant snowstorm is forecast to arrive by mid week, with optimistic expectations of a half-foot or more of accumulation.  That storm, now developing in the Pacific Northwest, will hopefully set us on the pattern of alternating snow and sunshine that tends to characterize the Front Range winter and spring.  Of course, the mountain snowpack is especially important and the projected storm should significantly boost that vital resource, which is off to a sluggish start this year.

In this semi-arid environment, snowstorms, isolated thunderstorms and monsoon rains are the primary sources of precipitation.  Climate change may increase or decrease the total amount we receive; alternatively, it may alter its pattern and/or composition (i.e. rain vs. snow).  However and whenever the moisture arrives, water conservation remains critical to the welfare of this region. 

Siberian Elms

Native to Russia and northern China, Siberian elms have been widely introduced across the globe; unfortunately, they are now classified as an invasive species in most areas.  Since it is a hardy tree that favors a cool, dry climate with abundant sunshine, this elm is common along the Front Range.

We have six large Siberian elms and numerous offspring on our Littleton farm; the latter often grow in bushy clusters.  Since seed production is abundant and since these trees also spread by suckering, they are truly "weed trees" that must be pruned to prevent them from crowding out other vegetation.  On the other hand, many songbirds, especially finches and siskins, feast on their buds and seeds each spring.

Fast growing, Siberian elms often develop dead zones and thus drop a significant amount of woody debris in the course of a year; they also leaf out in early spring and hold their leaves well into autumn, making them especially prone to snow damage.  Fortunately, our large elms are not near the house and their fallen branches just become additions to our numerous log and brush piles.   

Autumn Windfall

When I returned to our Littleton farm, two weeks ago, I was greeted by colorful shrubs and trees; of course, here along the Front Range, those colors are primarily various shades of yellow and orange.  Since then, winds associated with two storm systems have brought down most of those leaves and they now cover our driveway, "lawns" and pastures.

I could get our the rake or (God forbid) buy a noisy leaf blower, but, over the next month or so, nature will provide the cleanup service.  Unless the leaves are temporarily held in place by a heavy snowfall, they will swirl about in the changing wind, scattering across the dry landscape until they come to rest beneath our shrub and tree lines.  There they will slowly decompose for the next six months, feeding a wide variety of invertebrates and nourishing the foliage.

If we are patient and accept her untidy style, Nature provides both the cleanup and the fertilization that her landscapes depend on.  We, in turn, are rewarded with their beauty and with the time to explore them.