Before the Polar Plunge

Expecting heavy snow and Arctic air in central Missouri over the coming week, I decided a visit to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area was in order.  To my surprise, there was more open water at the refuge than I have observed in a year or more; no doubt, most of it will be frozen over after the approaching storm.

The variety and number of waterfowl was fair, dominated by mallards once again.  As is often the case in winter, raptors proved to be the highlight, including an adult bald eagle, three northern harriers, three red-tailed hawks, an American kestrel and what I believe to have been a peregrine falcon (based on its size and shape); the latter was backlit by the bright sun and too distant to identify with certainty.

Remarkably, I did not encounter any red-winged blackbirds during my visit, a first in my many years of touring Eagle Bluffs.  Of course, neither did I observe any migrant geese, another seasonal first for this frustrated birder. 

Winter gets Serious

The first half of January will be marked by a "polar plunge" as a deep atmospheric trough brings Arctic air to most of the central and eastern U.S.  Some areas will also receive a significant amount of snow, especially in the "lake-effect" areas of the Great Lakes region.

Here in central Missouri, the snow will not arrive until this coming weekend but the extreme cold is expected to persist through all of next week.  If current forecasts are correct, we could receive up to 18 inches of snow.

As our climate warms, average annual temperatures will continue to climb but they will represent a mix of extreme heat and brutally cold periods, superimposed on "typical" seasonal patterns.  An energized jet stream will be responsible for the dramatic shifts and for the severity of storms that they produce. 

Another Revolution

New Year's Day is an arbitrary choice to mark the beginning of Earth's orbit around the Sun; it does not coincide with a solstice or an equinox.  Nevertheless,  it is an emotional day for most humans since we measure our lives by years and reaching another one is always an accomplishment.

Of course, some revolutions are more important than others, affording new, society-based opportunities; 16, 18, and 21 trips around the sun are important mileposts in America.  Then there are anniversaries, marking the longevity of marriages, employment and, most importantly, life itself.  For those dealing with the threat of illness or advanced age, each revolution is a gift.

So, on this unnatural starting line for another revolution, I wish everyone a safe, pleasant and rewarding journey.