Cool Relief

After almost a week of intense sunshine and highs near 90 degrees F, a cold front has dropped south along the Front Range, bringing cool, moist air to the urban corridor; along the southeast edge of the front, thunderstorms, some severe, will lash the High Plains.

As is usually the case, such cool incursions in summer are appreciated by wildlife as well and they are noticeably more active.  This morning, a friend and I engaged is some passive birding on the farm, serenaded by robins, house finches and spotted towhees.  Eighteen species were observed, including a fair number of American and lesser goldfinches.

Unfortunately, our cool respite will be brief.  Though we expect rain this afternoon, the heat will return by this weekend, with high temperatures near 100 degrees F. 

Stoking Violence

Of the many public servants who have been killed, attacked or threatened over the past decade, almost all have been Democrats.  There is a clear reason for this imbalance.

Donald Trump, feeling aggrieved and disrespected, has repeatedly criticized his political opponents and has suggested to his MAGA base that his enemies need to be "removed from office."  Combined with his violent rhetoric on other matters, this encourages zealous or unstable believers to act on his behalf.  The recent murders of a Minnesota Senator and her husband were especially egregious but the hints of fostering violent confrontations continue.  The Speaker of the House recently suggested that a California Senator should be tarred and feathered for trying to ask questions at a news conference.  Trump himself has indicated that he might consider pardoning those who attempted to kidnap Governor Whitmer of Michigan.

Meanwhile, Republican Senators and Congresspersons offer little, if any, vocal resistance; they only speak up to condemn acts of violence when they occur.  Unfortunately, I believe Trump's downfall will come only after his rhetoric is directly linked to the killing of a judge or prominent political figure.  That individual's death will be on those who have long condoned Trump's behavior.  

Oakmont and its Trees

When it was first developed, in 1904, Oakmont Country Club, in western Pennsylvania (the site of this week's U.S. Open) was known for its open terrain, resembling the courses one sees in Great Britain.  Over the years, trees were added to bring the course in line with the classic American style.

Recently, as they approached the Open, officials of the Club decided to take the course back to its original layout.  Depending on the source, 12,600 to 15,000 trees were removed.

A fan of golf but also a dedicated conservationist, I was dismayed by the news.  One cannot overlook the fact that trees add to the ecologic diversity of any landscape; furthermore, and most importantly, they play a significant role as carbon sinks and their loss is especially disturbing as we attempt to mitigate climate change.  This is not 1904 and, in my opinion, the decision to bring back the old Oakmont was short-sighted at best. 

No Kings Protests

On this day when King Trump arranged for a military parade to celebrate his birthday, No Kings protests have been held across the country, responding to Trump's push toward authoritarian rule.  My wife, son and I attended the protest in Littleton, Colorado, and were very pleased with the turnout.

One of 2000 or more No Kings protests across the country, we were honored to participate and impressed by the energy and commitment of the attendees.  It was also reassuring that many drivers beeped their support as they passed our site near downtown Littleton.

While such events can seem futile at times, knowing that the scene was repeated across the country (many much larger than our protest) indicates that a grass-roots movement is taking shape, reflecting strong disapproval of Trump's policies.  Hopefully, his birthday parade received far less attention. 

Front Range Guessing Game

Throughout June and July, thunderstorms bubble up above the Front Range mountains by late morning.  Where they will head is anyone's guess.

Some merge into impressive storms while others shrink as they drift eastward, producing but a tail of virga beneath their residual clouds.  The direction that the storms take will depend on upper level winds, adding to the uncertainty of who will benefit from their nourishing rains.  Since the larger storms often bring damaging winds and hail, urban corridor residents hope to be in the path of less intense downpours.  In the end, on any given day, most areas will remain dry.

By August, the Southwest Monsoon has generally moved up from the Four Corners region and the rain events are more generalized and usually less potent.  Of course, this typical summer pattern will likely change as our climate warms; whether we receive more or less atmospheric moisture remains to be seen.  

Inspectors in the Mulberry Trees

Our mulberry trees are beginning to bear fruit and, over the past few days, small flocks of robins have turned up to assess the progress.  Since the berries are not yet ripe, these inspectors leave after a few samples are tasted and subsequently dropped.

Within a week, the mulberries will have ripened and avian visitors to the trees will increase dramatically.  Joining the robins will be cedar waxwings, spotted towhees, house finches and Bullock's orioles, among others.  Of course, squirrels will get more than their fair share while raccoons and fox will turn up at night to scour the ground for fallen fruit.

Mulberry trees thrive in this semiarid climate and are welcome magnets for wildlife.  I would like to personally thank the inspectors for calling attention to the upcoming feast.

The King's Military

Sensing the opportunity to move closer to dictatorship, King Trump has unleashed the National Guard and a contingent of Marines on the protests in Los Angeles, a move opposed by Governor Newsom.  Though the protests have been peaceful (with some exceptions) and well controlled by local police, Trump decided to inflame the situation, wanting to be seen as a strong man when dealing with illegal immigrants.

One suspects that this terrorizing show of military force in the Homeland is just the first such incident during our King's reign.  No doubt, the primary targets will be Sanctuary Cities in Blue States; soldiers will not likely be surrounding crop fields and meat processing plants in the Red States.

Of course, this inappropriate escalation may just be a lead up to the military parade on Trump's birthday this weekend.  Expected to cost 100 million dollars or more, it will be a perfect display of our King's power and narcissism.  After all, he did call them suckers.

Note: An addition has been made to the original post. 

Mink at South Platte Park

On our usual birding route through the south end of South Platte Park this morning, a friend and I encountered a family of mink.  The parents and at least one observed offspring (litter size averages eight kits) had settled within a wood pile along the edge of a lake that connects directly with the South Platte River.

While mink are most often observed in the streams and lakes of the mountains and foothills of Colorado, they also inhabit the major river valleys of the Piedmont and Eastern Plains.  Their diet consists of fish, crayfish, amphibians, birds and small mammals.

Though not rare in our region, these were the first mink that either of us had seen within South Platte Park over a combined period of more than twenty years of birding at the refuge.  Such is the joy of exploring nature; her gifts are manyfold and ever changing. 

A Feast on the Driveway

For the last few days, a mix of songbirds have been gathering beneath our large Siberian elms, feasting on nearly invisible prey that they pick from the driveway.  Based on past experience, I know the victims are the tiny, translucent larvae of elm-leaf beetles.

Robins, spotted towhees, house finches and chipping sparrows have been the primary diners and it is amazing how quickly they locate and ingest the larvae.  Of course, those slugs that fall into the grass are relatively safe; no comparable flock of hunters has been observed on that side of the tree.

Another brood of larvae will hatch and drop in late summer when a second feast will ensue.

See also: A Shower of Larvae 

Red River Valley Storms

A stationary front stretching through the Red River Valley will be the focal point of severe thunderstorms later today.  Expected to produce strong winds, large hail, tornados and torrential rains, the train of storms will lash southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and northern Louisiana.

While the storms themselves will be destructive enough, the danger is heightened by the fact that they will peak after sunset and continue until midnight.  Deaths from severe weather are especially common at night, when many persons in their path are asleep or out for the evening.

Tomorrow, the storm system will track across the Southeast and up the Mid-Atlantic Coast .  Flooding rains will be the major concern in that region. 

Year of the Phoebe

Perhaps it's my imagination (and it often is) but there seems to be more Say's phoebes hanging around our Littleton farm this year.  These large flycatchers usually hunt from a fencepost or from a dead snag and the latter fact may explain my observation.

Since we are letting the farm naturalize as much as possible, our calls to the tree service have diminished and we have plenty of dead wood in our larger trees.  Combined with less attention to the pastures and "lawns," this may attract the phoebes by offering both more perch sites and more prey.

One would like to believe that naturalization does attract more species but there are always exceptions.  An example this year is a dearth of collared doves which used to nest on the farm but have not been observed at all this year.  Nature keeps us guessing. 

False Outrage

Attacking American universities due to their "tolerance of antisemitism," King Trump and his MAGA followers are demonstrating their own insincerity.  Having grown up in a Conservative, white, Christian culture, I can personally attest to the fact that racism, antisemitism and homophobia are widespread in that segment of society.

Indeed, pretending to be outraged by antisemitism on campus, Conservative Republicans are truly attacking the liberalism that comes with higher education.  Their base is primarily from the blue collar ranks and they need to demonstrate that they resent the freedom of thought that is encouraged on college campuses.

One need not be antisemitic to protest the genocide unleashed in Gaza.  While violent protests must be condemned, peaceful demonstrations should not draw the ire of Conservatives; using false outrage to cut funds for vital research that is carried out at our universities is a punishment directed at all Americans. 

Portals to the Past

More than any other element of human society, music ties us to our past.  Heard repeatedly on our radio, tape player or digital device, songs are associated with events or individuals from our youth to more recent periods in our life.

Of course, those ties are especially strong when they are associated with emotional events or relationships, whether joyful or pain-inducing.  In such cases, the music is an integral part of a memory and the latter is invoked whenever the song is heard.

One might conclude that songwriters are the most powerful individuals in our life, surely exceeding the impact of politicians and business leaders who come and go over the years.  The words and melody of a song, especially when closely bound to emotion, will always retain their influence.

Flashback Post LXVII

Mt. Etna is erupting once again and will continue to do so in the future.  A post from August of 2011 discusses the volcano's geology.

See: Geology of Mt. Etna

Smoke Signals

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires, having drifted south through the Midwest over the past few days, has now reached the Southeastern States.  More than reducing visibility, the smoke has produced poor air quality which is of special concern to those who work outdoors or who have chronic lung disease.

While there is nothing positive about this invasion of smoke from a health point of view, it does call attention to the distant devastation in Canada, an environmental catastrophe that might otherwise go unnoticed in the U.S.  Furthermore, it is a clear signal that ecosystems across the globe, including man-made habitats, are interconnected.  We cannot ignore the health of any environment (marine or terrestrial) without suffering the consequences.

Those who deny climate change need to personally experience its effects, whether it be via floods, hurricanes, drought or wildfires to give them pause.  Hopefully, this invasion of smoke will send a clear message and serve to change their misguided attitude. 

The Peak of Verdancy

Across central latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, early June brings the peak of verdancy.  Fueled by moist soil and the lengthening period of sunlight, greenery abounds.  In some areas, certain trees have just recently leafed out and prolonged episodes of heat have not yet materialized.

In concert, all forms of wildlife are taking advantage of the lush growth and, in the case of birds and mammals, adults are busily attending to their offspring.  Consequently, it is a great time for birders and other wildlife enthusiasts to visit our parks and nature preserves.

By later in the month, the intense sun will begin to take a toll and plant life will rely on roving bands of summer thunderstorms for vital moisture.  Adaptation to heat will then become the focus of plants, wild creatures and humans alike.  So enjoy the verdancy of late spring while it lasts; climate change may soon alter both the nature and the timing of this seasonal transition.