Western Heat

An atmospheric ridge, stretching from the valleys of California to the Wasatch Front, will allow heat to stream northward today.  Many areas will experience afternoon highs above 100 degrees F, breaking records for the date.

Since most areas affected by the heat lie in desert areas, this event is easy to ignore.  But the early date and the extreme conditions are just another sign that climate change is altering the seasonal transitions that we have long come to anticipate.

Fortunately, the extreme heat will be short-lived as a Pacific front come ashore with its rain and cooler air.  Then again, a long, hot summer surely lies ahead. 

Mountain Living

While we humans evolved in the Rift Valley of East Africa, our species has long been enamored with mountainous terrain.  Camps, cabins, caves and towns in the mountains offered beautiful scenery, plenty of clean water and a diverse variety of wild game.  Even today their appeal persists though modern life diminishes the need to hunt for food.

As our climate warms, however, the risks of mountain living have increased significantly.  Prolonged drought augments the incidence of forest fires while, as we have seen in Asheville, North Carolina, and eastern Kentucky, torrential rains over mountainous topography can cause tragic flooding.  Just this week, a mountain glacier fractured in Switzerland, sending a slurry of ice, water, mud and vegetation downhill, burying a small village; fortunately, an advanced warning saved most of the residents.

Mountains will always appeal to humans but living on or beneath them, like living on barrier islands or on major river floodplains, will become increasingly risky and expensive as climate change remolds the planet. 

Rainmaker

A broad atmospheric trough dips across most of the country this morning, from the Rockies to the East Coast.  Along its front, low pressure centers have developed, sweeping warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico northward across the cooler air within the trough.

Heavy, flooding rain is expected across eastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, southern Missouri and the southern Mississippi Valley while most areas within the trough will receive some precipitation.  Not a welcome development for the holiday weekend.

Here in central Missouri, we expect relatively cool, cloudy conditions and intermittent rain over the next three days.  Having recently recovered from a prolonged drought, we really can't complain. 

Intoxicated with Power

King Trump, our Narcissist-in-Chief, thrives on attention and is intoxicated with power.  Each day, he awakens with another target on his mind, knowing that his action will appeal to his base and serve his personal sense of omnipotence.

Attacking corporations, universities, celebrities, law firms and journalists, the King unleashes his corrupt Department of Justice on his perceived enemies.  Wasting our money while grifting as much as possible for himself and his family, Trump knows that Republican Senators and Representatives do not have the courage to intervene.

Fortunately, the Judicial Branch is disrupting his drive toward authoritarian rule but resistance must come from American society as a whole.  Those groups who are attacked must push back and we must support them in any way that we can.  Trump's third Impeachment must occur (and succeed) before this self-absorbed tyrant destroys our Democracy.  

Settling on Songbirds

Visiting Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on this beautiful morning in May, a friend and I found that the refuge had reached a nadir in its water content.  While a few stagnant pools still dotted the floodplain, even the mudflats had dried out and cracked.

Waterfowl were limited to two Canada geese while a dozen semi-palmated sandpipers foraged along one of the shrinking pools.  Turkey vultures once again dominated the desiccated landscape and a lone American kestrel was the only other raptor that we observed.  Three great-blue herons represented the waders.

On the other hand, a decent variety of songbirds were encountered, dominated by indigo buntings and dickcissels.  Other sightings of note included a yellow-billed cuckoo, a great crested flycatcher, a pair of Baltimore orioles, a few common yellowthroats and, the highlight of our visit, four scissor-tailed flycatchers.  Long a magnet for waterfowl and other water birds, Eagle Bluffs remains in a human-induced drought; when the desolation will end is uncertain. 

A Late Season Nor'Easter

A strong center of low pressure, fueled in part by the recent Pacific storm that pummeled the Northern Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes Region, has set up off the Northeast Coast, producing a Nor'Easter more typical of late winter or early spring.

The storm's counterclockwise winds will lash the New England Coast with strong winds, heavy rain, large waves and storm surge.  Unlike most Nor'Easters, there will be no snow but the cold, wind-driven rain may feel even worse.

Fortunately, the storm will be short-lived, moving rapidly up the coast and then out to sea.  In its wake, sunny, warm conditions are expected for the Memorial Day Weekend. 

Kites in the Wind

Returning to Columbia after two weeks in Colorado, I hoped to encounter Mississippi kites, back from their own journey to South America.  I did not have to wait long.

Late this afternoon and despite a gusty wind, two of the kites cavorted over our neighborhood, diving low to snare insects on or near the treetops.  As I reported last year, Mississippi kites have become increasingly common in central Missouri and, in fact, one is whistling from a nearby tree as I write this post.

We'll enjoy their presence (and their service) throughout the warmer months and, at least in my case, take special pleasure in watching their aerial maneuvers.  Wind or no wind, their flight skills are a joy to behold. 

The Flint Hills Transition

On my many road trips between Colorado and Missouri over the years, the stretch through the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas (between Topeka and Junction City) is my favorite.  These ridges and intervening valleys are, in effect, a geographic boundary zone between the Great Plains and the Midwest.

For those traveling west on Interstate 70, the Flint Hills offer the first "feel" of the West: Big Sky and broad vistas.  For those traveling east, having crossed the relatively dry and flat landscapes of the Great Plains, they present the first glimpse of lush greenery and dissected terrain so common throughout the Midwest.

Today, illuminated by bright sunshine, the Flint Hills did not disappoint.  Since the land is utilized primarily for grazing cattle, drawing mixed emotions on my part, there is very little development.  Raptors are common throughout the year and scissor-tailed flycatchers are often observed during the warmer months.  This morning's highlight was the back edge of this week's massive storm system, stretching along the far eastern horizon.

See also: The Permian Swath 

Crossing the Storm's Backside

Late yesterday afternoon, a massive Pacific storm was centered over Wyoming and its counterclockwise winds were dropping heavy snow in the Colorado Rockies.  As the storm moved eastward, its cold front ignited severe thunderstorms (some harboring tornados) across the Northern Plains.

During our journey east on Interstate 70 this afternoon, strong north winds raked the High Plains, producing ominous upslope rain clouds along the Palmer Divide.  Fortunately, the highway skirted most of that precipitation but I did note that wind turbines across eastern Colorado had been shut down due to the high winds.  Beyond Limon, we drove toward towering, white cumulus clouds, drifting south on the backside of the storm; carrying a residual cargo of moisture, some dropped curtains of rain or virga.

The massive system is now centered over South Dakota and its destructive storms arc through the Midwest.  We will spend the night in Hays, Kansas, thereby remaining on the relatively safe backside of this atmospheric monster. 

Stewards of the Earth

Most religious persons believe that God placed man on Earth to oversee and protect the bounty of life that it harbors.  If so, She must be severely disappointed.

Among the last species to appear, we are surely among the most expendable.  When compared to photosynthetic plants and pollinating insects, our role is insignificant.  Indeed, for the past 10,000 years, during which we established permanent settlements and gave rise to the agricultural, industrial and technologic revolutions, we have been dismantling, polluting and otherwise destroying the intricate web of life into which our species was born.  Should humans disappear tomorrow, natural ecosystems would begin a long process of healing and the planet might just survive, at least until our sun burns out.

But we are where we are and our only hope of offering stewardship is afforded by our intelligence.  We generally know what we must do: limit our population, reduce our consumption, eliminate pollution and both protect and restore as much natural habitat as possible.  Unfortunately, greed, politics and mysticism get in the way and our professed role as stewards of the planet will not likely materialize.  In the end, it will be our species that destroys Mother Earth. 

A Generic Naturalist

Growing up with an interest in Nature, primarily instilled by my maternal grandfather, I have come to learn a great deal about the plants and animals of North America.  But, even though I graduated from college with a degree in Biology, don't quiz me about their Genus and species.  And when it comes to groups such as insects and mushrooms, my knowledge base is unimpressive, to say the least.

Rather, my enthusiasm for the great outdoors is how it all fits together, how interdependent the countless species truly are.  Having outgrown the mysticism of my youth, I now understand that we humans are part of nature, just one of the latest (and more expendable) species to evolve in Nature's 3.6 billion year-old web of life.

Now, in my waning years, my focus is on enjoying nature as I did in my youth and doing what I can to protect what we humans have not yet destroyed for future generations.  Hence this blog and my rants against the religious, political and industrial forces that threaten the welfare of our natural environment. 

A Rose from the East

Though we have several types of roses on our Littleton, Colorado, farm, our wild, yellow roses are, by far, the most abundant.  They are, to the best of my limited botanical knowledge, Harison's yellow roses, said to have been brought west on the wagon trains.

When we purchased our property, almost 35 years ago, there were a few clumps of these attractive flowers scattered about the farm.  We were energetic enough to relocate some of them, an endeavor that proved to be unnecessary.  Aggressive and possessing stems laden with countless small spines, these roses fend for themselves and spread along borders with ease.

Favoring relatively cool, dry environments, this rose species thrives throughout most of Colorado and its dense blooms, occurring in mid May at our elevation, can be spectacular.  Efforts to keep them from invading our "lawns" were abandoned some time ago and these hardy plants do just fine without artificial irrigation. 

Flashback Post LXVI

Following an unpleasant encounter with a water-logged black lab at South Platte Park, I thought it would be appropriate to republish a post from April of 2014.

See:  The Futility of Leash Laws 

Surveying the Damage

As I have reported in the past, a large commercial and residential development is underway just east of the south end of South Platte Park, in Littleton.  From the adjacent roadways, it is currently a massive field of dirt, with some initial roads and structures.

Wanting to see how it is impacting the Park, my wife and I took a trail along the east side of the South Platte River.  Fortunately, a significant green belt still exists between the river and the development and wooded areas block one's view of the devastation in most areas.

Nevertheless, such a large project at the edge of what, in my opinion, is the best riverine, greenbelt park in Metro Denver is disturbing.  No doubt, access trails will lead down from the neighborhoods, dramatically increasing use of the Park by cyclists, fishermen, rafters, walkers and their dogs.  I'm sure this sounds a bit selfish on my part, a regular visitor to the Park, but natural ecosystems can only tolerate so much human activity.  Furthermore, loss of the adjacent open space, some of which was agricultural, will change the character of the refuge itself. 

The Fence Walker

Heading out back on a cool, sunny morning, I was watching a group of songbirds in one of our pinyon pines when I caught sight of our resident red fox.   She was not nosing her way across our "lawn" or sniffing for voles in a pasture.  Rather, she was trotting across the top of our back fence (photo).

She stopped and looked my way but is used to my presence and continued on her way.  Having owned the

property for more than 30 years, this was a unique experience.  The top of the fence is no more than four inches wide and I was truly impressed with her agility.

Such are the many rewards of spending time in the great outdoors.  Common creatures engaged in uncommon behavior is just a small (yet entertaining) part of nature's tremendous diversity.

Nature under Assault

For the remainder of King Trump's term, he and those who support him will assault nature in a variety of ways.  The destruction of natural habitat, the reduction or elimination of pollution controls and an inclination to ridicule (if not totally ignore) efforts to mitigate climate change will be among the more egregious.

Those of us who know that the welfare of mankind is directly tied to the health of natural ecosystems must do what we can to combat this assault.  Donating to national and local conservation organizations is among the more effective commitments; a few of these are listed in the right hand column of this blog.  Of course, voting out Conservative Republicans and climate change deniers in next year's midterms will serve to reign in Trump's anti-environmental policies.

Meanwhile, we must do what we can to minimize our own impact on the natural world.  Allowing our own property to naturalize, eliminating our reliance on pesticides and herbicides, limiting our use of gas and electric power, recycling what we can and reducing our personal consumption are among such measures.  Complaining without acting is not an option.  

Flashback Post LXV

Happy Mother's Day to all who have taken on the greatest responsibility on our planet.  A post from May of 2014 expresses that sentiment.

See: More Mothers than Fathers

The Flower Micro-Moon

Awaking in the middle of the night, I looked outside to see the Flower Moon, gleaming from the southwest sky.  It looked quite small, especially compared to recent Super Moons, indicating that it is at or near its maximum distance from Earth as it travels along it elliptical, off-kilter orbit.

Known as a micro-moon under such circumstances, it will peak in its fullness tomorrow night.  In addition to its current orbital position, our beautiful satellite is gradually moving away from Earth, though at a rate too gradual to notice during our brief human life span.

Whether the May full moon is a Super Moon, a micro-moon or some size in between, it shines on a Northern Hemisphere that has finally escaped the grip of winter and is reaching its peak season of growth and fecundity.   

NOAA to ignore Storm Data

Under King Trump's Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will no longer monitor the costs associated with severe storms, whether they be hurricanes, tornado outbreaks or flooding.  Such data has been used to understand the rising cost associated with climate change and to determine what preventive measures may reduce future disasters.

Coming on the heels of the Administration's decision to cut (or eliminate) funding for FEMA, this decision is claimed to be just another effort to reduce the Federal budget.  But, for anyone who has followed MAGA philosophy, this is just the latest demonstration of climate change denial.

Scientific data presents inconvenient truths for both religious and political zealots.  The best way to reduce its influence is to eliminate science-based programming, research and publications.  Unfortunately, we all suffer the consequences. 

Parental Advice Fails

During my youth, my parents, like many if not most parents, advised that "if you cannot say something nice about someone, don't say anything."  That is dangerous advice in these perilous times.

As King Trump and his cronies attempt to demolish the legal, financial, health, cultural, environmental and social support systems in this country, we cannot be quiet.  As they trash our alliances and spread propaganda, we cannot hold our tongue.  As the King rakes in millions through his grifting schemes, we cannot look the other way.  As the rights of both American citizens and immigrants are trampled, we must speak up.

One cannot imagine a worse individual to lead and represent our country.  Trump and those who support him deserve whatever criticism and opposition they receive.  We have no other recourse.  Sorry Mom and Dad.

 

An Ugly Gift

The Colorado Front Range urban corridor is known for its sunny skies and dry air.  Yet, it does experience periods of gloomy weather, especially from March through May.

Ugly as they may be, these upslope wind patterns produce chilly rain or wet snow, important gifts to this semiarid ecosystem.  More likely to soak in than the flash downpours associated with summer thunderstorms, these nourishing rains are also more widespread, often falling from the Palmer Divide northward to the Wyoming border.

Having received steady rain through most of yesterday, the gloom persists today with scattered showers.  But we'll take this windfall before sunny, warm weather and dry air return to the Front Range tomorrow. 

A Deep Western Trough

A deep atmospheric trough, extending south to the Mexican border, covers the western third of the U.S. this morning.  Within the trough, cool, cloudy conditions are widespread and snow is falling at the higher elevations.

It looks and feels more like March than May here in Metro Denver and I would not be surprised if we get some flurries overnight.  Indeed, a low pressure center down in New Mexico is producing a counterclockwise, westward, upslope flow along the Front Range, an atmospheric feature typical of spring snowstorms.

Thunderstorms have ignited in the Southern Plains, along the eastern edge of the trough.  There, the cool air within the trough clashes with the warm air at its rim and the jet stream creates wind shear as it interacts with lower level, moisture-laden winds from the southeast. 

Avian Welcoming Party

Whenever I return to our Littleton farm after a significant absence, I like to think that our resident wildlife take notice.  On this beautiful spring morning along the Front Range, that seemed to be the case.

House wrens, spotted towhees and house finches were singing incessantly while two white-breasted nuthatches followed me about the property.  A pair of Cooper's hawks honored me with a flyover and a red-tailed hawk stopped by to acknowledge my return.  A broad-tailed hummingbird repeatedly zoomed overhead while mourning doves provided mellow background greetings, contrasting with the harsh hellos from a pair of northern flickers.

Of course, all of this behavior is typical in the spring but we humans want to be more than observers.  We want to be part of, or even take credit for, the avian assembly, especially when it is on "our property."  Imagine what we may, the joke is on us. 

Westward into May

After dodging thunderstorms in central Kansas yesterday afternoon, we continued westward today.  Cool, dry air had dropped in behind the storms and bright sunshine illuminated the High Plains.

Flocks of great-tailed grackles scoured the rest stops and barnyards while the occasional kestrel, prairie falcon or Swainson's hawk (the latter species just back from Argentina) hunted along the highway.  Pronghorn were especially common across the Palmer Divide.

As we approached Denver, we noted that a significant amount of snow still coats the higher peaks of the Front Range, a welcome sign for a sprawling city in a semiarid ecosystem; of course, the Metro Area may receive snow during May as well.  More from Colorado over the next week or two. 

Anti-War Anthems

Now more than fifty years old, the anti-war anthems of the late Sixties and early Seventies remain some of my favorite songs.  Calling attention to the social upheaval, civil injustice and political corruption of the Vietnam Era, they played an important role in the development of my personal philosophy.

I do not regularly listen to modern-day music but one hopes that some of it also decries a war: King Trump's war on our personal freedoms, our democracy and our Constitution.  It will take the same level of energy, protest and activism to end this war.

I am regularly heartened when I hear my nostalgic college music at cafes and other establishments near campus.  Their message still applies.

Note:  This post has been altered to stay on point.  Sometimes, our emotions get in the way. 

Indigo Delight

On this cool, cloudy morning at Phillips Lake Park, a trio of indigo buntings brightened the landscape.  Having just returned from Central America or the Caribbean, they were moving about a lakeside meadow and will remain here in Missouri through September.

Other summer residents included a green heron, barn and cliff swallows, three spotted sandpipers, a noisy chat and a lone yellow warbler.  Yet to head north were a large number of white-crowned sparrows, foraging in thickets that line the shore.  An unexpected migrant (though not rare) was an American pipit, wagging its tail as it scoured the edge of a grassy pool.

But the indigo buntings were a special delight.  Though they will be numerous on regional grasslands throughout the summer, this species has always brought back a nostalgic event from my childhood, long before I owned a pair of binoculars or had any concept of birding.