Castlewood State Park

The Meramec River rises in the Missouri Ozarks, southeast of Salem, and flows ENE for 218 miles to join the Mississippi in southern Metro St. Louis.  As it approaches that city, Castlewood State Park lines its northern shore, offering trail loops that run along the river, wind through forest and lead up to scenic bluffs that rise above the Meramec.

Today, my wife and I hiked the 2-mile river loop and endured the short but steep climb to overlooks atop the cliffs (photo).  In addition to the beautiful scenery, we encountered an excellent variety of birdlife, including wood ducks, red-tailed hawks and several woodpecker species (among many other woodland songbirds).

Though it is clearly a popular State Park and well worth a visit, signage is absent along roads that lead toward the Park, which is south of Ballwin, Missouri.  We recommend that you consult maps before setting out for Castlewood State Park.

The Anti-MLK

Today we honor Martin Luther King, his life and his legacy.  Cut short by an assassin, his life was dedicated to protecting the rights of all humans, especially those in minority groups.

Now, almost 58 years after his death, America is "led" by a self-indulgent narcissist who could care less about the common man.  Focused on his personal power and consumed by his need for attention, he degrades those who do not worship everything he says or does.  In response, his Administration has condemned adherence to DEI principles and has focused on removing non-whites from positions of authority throughout the Federal government.

Let's hope that Trump is forced from office before civil rights are completely abolished in America. 

Freeze Out

Visiting Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area early this afternoon, I found that all water surfaces were frozen and that the thousands of ducks that were present for the past few weeks had moved on; only 16 American coot, huddled on a small island, were present to represent the waterfowl.

Other sightings included a couple of great blue herons, three ring-billed gulls, two red-tailed hawks and an American kestrel, not to mention a large, restless flock of starlings.

We expect a modest warmup this week and then another Arctic front by next weekend; I suspect the ducks will stay south for a while.  Whether we will encounter a significant number of migrant geese at Eagle Bluffs this season remains to be seen.

While Republicans Slept

King Trump has now been in office for one chaotic year.  Having pardoned the January 6 rioters, he moved on to attacking his political enemies; to date, almost all of those lawsuits have been unsuccessful.  He then enacted numerous, arbitrary tariffs on allies and foes alike, producing economic turmoil in the U.S. and across the globe.

Unleashing ICE thugs on Blue States and Cities, he has threatened the welfare of American citizens and trampled on the rights of immigrants.  In recent months, our King has committed war crimes on the high seas, kidnapped the illegitimate President of Venezuela and threatened to invade Greenland and Cuba.  Just in the last few days, he has expressed a willingness to invoke the Insurrection Act and has hinted that the upcoming midterm elections need not be held.

During all of this, the Republican members of Congress (with very few exceptions) have remained silent.  It was not until Trump launched an investigation of the Federal Reserve Chairman that Republicans began to awaken from their political slumber.  Why?  Because that move threatened their personal wealth.  Protecting their own welfare has been their overriding priority. 

Trump's Three Dollar Meals

Countering the mistaken belief that groceries are expensive, King Trump sent out his Agriculture Secretary to report that hundreds of meals can be made for three dollars apiece.  Her example was "a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli and something else."  Of course, one would have to drink water and a dessert would be out of the question.

One doubts that Our Dear Leader will be serving three dollar meals at his 400 million dollar ballroom but, according to recent reports, Trump orders only three items when he visits McDonalds: a Big Mac, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a Fish Sandwich.

Having cut aid to starving populations across the globe, the Trump Administration has no tolerance for American citizens who complain about grocery prices.  After all, emphasis must be placed on procuring Venezuelan oil, paying thugs to enforce our immigration laws and preparing to invade Greenland.

Birding in Frigid Sunshine

On this sunny but very cold morning in central Missouri, I took my usual drive through the farmlands east of Columbia.  As expected, many birds were clearly sheltered from the chill in thickets and woodlands.

But I did encounter some of the more hardy species along the graveled roads and above or on the broad fields and pastures.  Sixty or more Canada geese had settled on a partially frozen lake, a few flocks of dark-eyed juncos rose from the weedy roadsides as I passed, a large congregation of mourning doves foraged along the edge of a crop field, several American kestrels hunted from power lines, a Cooper's hawk streaked across my path in pursuit of unseen prey and an adult bald eagle soared overhead, oblivious of the frigid conditions.

Protected by the warm confines of my pickup, I admired the tenacity of those open country birds.  Of course, they have evolved to tolerate such conditions and, unlike we humans, are not discouraged by temperature readings or dire weather forecasts.

First Song of Spring

As winter sets in, birdsong nearly disappears, replaced by the harsh calls of crows, magpies and hawks and the hooting of owls.  The mellow tunes of spring are generally not expected for several months.

Over the past few days, however, I have noticed the welcome song of mourning doves, often wafting through the neighborhood before sunrise.  Triggered by the lengthening hours of sunlight, their hopeful tune may seem out of place amidst the harsh winter weather.

But the seasons are a continuum, not defined by dates on the human calendar.  Great horned owls are already nesting and the early bulb plants will push through the chilly soil within a couple of weeks.  The mourning doves do not "know" this but they certainly sense the coming change and are kind enough to spread the news. 

Crow Island

Birding in the Lower Bonne Femme Valley, southwest of Columbia, this morning, I drove out to the Missouri River where bald eagles often roost in large cottonwoods along the banks.  I did not see any eagles but did observe a flock of American crows, crowded on a rock outcrop in the middle of the river.  The exposed rock was only about 10 feet in diameter and I counted 32 crows.

I initially wondered if they spend the night there to avoid predation but doubt that a sizable flock of aggressive crows would be the target of any nocturnal hunter.  Perhaps it was a gathering point before a day of scavenging regional farmlands but, within ten minutes, they headed off in different directions.

Any experienced birder has regularly encountered much larger flocks of crows (especially in winter) but this morning's sighting was, after 50 years of birding, new to me.  Such is the nature of birding and the reason that we are repeatedly drawn into the great outdoors. 

Impersonal Efficiency

As artificial intelligence is utilized by most retail businesses, we consumers are directed to websites, chat boxes and computerized voices for the answers to our questions.  Whether we are refilling a prescription, have questions about a product, scheduling service or hoping to return merchandise, a kind, empathetic human is often hard to find.

Efficiency is king for the retailers, who can cut their human workforce and collect even more data from their customers.  The dehumanization of commerce is underway and will surely only increase.

Meanwhile, the diminishing opportunity for human communication and interaction is blamed for many ills in modern society.  Social gatherings have been replaced by social media encounters.  We must take the initiative ourselves by joining clubs, shopping in person, attending "live events" and by encouraging our family and friends to do the same.

Weldon Spring Conservation Area

There must be hundreds of Lewis & Clark Hiking Trails between St. Louis and the Pacific Northwest, commemorating the excursion of those adventurers.  One of these is an 8 mile loop at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, on the north wall of the Missouri River Valley, in St. Charles County.

We limited our hike today to a 2 mile section of that loop (4 miles roundtrip) that runs along a ridge top to broad views of the Missouri River (see photo).  The large access lot for this trail is on the south side of Missouri 94, a few miles west of Interstate 64.

An additional treat on this road trip was travel along Missouri 94 as we headed westward back to Columbia.  This paved, 2-lane highway jogs between the River Hills and the broad, flat floodplain of the Missouri River, passing river towns, vineyards, wineries, tree farms and ranches en route.  We recommend this scenic road for those wishing to avoid the congestion and monotony of Interstate 70.

See also:  Up River with Lewis & Clark (and the three posts that follow it)  

Winter Rain

During my youth (ages ago), winter rain was characterized by light, cold showers, often mixed with snow.  Any liquid that reached the ground would usually leave a glaze of ice until the weak, winter sun could melt it away.

Now, as our climate warms, spring-like rains, often accompanied by scattered thunderstorms, have become much more common during the winter months.  Indeed, yesterday morning, a storm system centered over western Kansas swept Gulf of Mexico moisture northward across the Heartland, fueling thunderstorms that dropped torrential rain on central Missouri.  Morning temperatures were in the mid 50s F, reaching the low 60's by early afternoon.

Though I enjoy periods of snow during the winter, cold rain and glazed surfaces have never been among my favorite winter features.  I thus must admit that spring-like storm systems, when devoid of destructive winds, are personally preferred while acknowledging that global warming will bring far greater challenges than icy sidewalks.

The Tool of Violence

Yesterday's killing of a peaceful protestor by an Ice Agent in Minneapolis is the latest use of violence by the Trump Administration; their goal is to foment fear and thereby stifle dissent.  Starting with his violent attempt to overthrow the 2020 election, Trump has unleashed a string of threats against his perceived enemies and is now encouraging violent measures to fulfill his deportation goals.

Of course, his capture of President Maduro and his wife resulted in the death of many Venezuelan guards and military members (and who knows how many innocent civilians).  Occurring on the heels of boat strikes that vaportized more than a hundred "drug traffickers," Trump's plan to take over the country will be a long and violent process, resulting in many deaths on both sides.

Our King is now threatening force in other Western Hemisphere countries that do not comply with his Imperialistic goals.  Republicans, abdicating their role of oversight, fear retribution if they speak out against his Administration.  Only a massive blue wave in November will put an end to the ongoing violence.    

Hiking a Secluded Ridge

Having no plans and promised warmer weather yesterday, my wife and I decided to take a hike at a Missouri Conservation Area that we had not yet visited.  Since we have lived in Columbia for 28 years, that self-imposed criteria took us one hour east of town to Little Lost Creek Conservation Area, southeast of Jonesburg.

Draped across the Little Lost Creek gorge on the north wall of the Missouri River Valley, its trails run atop ridges and along the streams.  Alone at the refuge, we chose a ridge top trail in its southeast quadrant which offered pleasing views along its course (photo).  Joined only by an occasional woodpecker and a flock of juncos, we enjoyed a two-mile roundtrip hike.

Conservation Areas, lacking the amenities of State Parks, offer relative solitude and tranquility.  Unless hunting season is underway, they are recommended destinations for those seeking to immerse themselves in nature.

An Owl in a Box

One of the highlights at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area over the past few months has been the sighting of an eastern screech owl in one of the wood duck boxes.  Common in woodlands throughout the eastern 2/3 of the U.S., these small owls roost and nest in tree cavities or, as in this case, in man-made boxes.

These tiny but aggressive raptors feed on a wide variety of prey, including large insects, amphibians, reptiles, songbirds and small mammals.  They mate for life and generally raise 4-5 young each year.  Though often residents of wooded suburbs, screech owls usually go unnoticed until their eerie calls are heard at dusk.

Yesterday, I was among several birders to pull up across from the nest box at Eagle Bluffs.  The reddish occupant was basking in the sun at the box entrance, a common screech owl practice on cold winter days. 

The Dictator Club

King Trump, without the approval of Congress, attacked Venezuela and captured President Maduro and his wife last night.  Though Maduro has been an illegitimate leader, backed by a powerful militia and citizen gangs, the reason for his capture remains uncertain.

While Maduro has been indicted as a drug trafficker, Trump recently pardoned the former President of Honduras, convicted of bringing tons of cocaine into our country.  Perhaps our Dear Leader wants control of Venezuela's massive oil reserve, though a glut of crude across the globe has dropped its price near an all time low.  Perhaps it was just a power move to shore up his own international image.

After all, King Trump loves dictators; Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un are among his buddies. He admires their power and hopes to match their unchallenged rule.  Maduro may end up in a U.S. prison but the Venezuelan dictatorship will likely endure.  Of more concern to Americans is whether we are headed toward a dictatorship as well. 

Addendum (1/3/26):  Wasting no time and complicating his impulsive show of force, King Trump has announced that the U.S. will now run Venezuela.  Maybe he'll get the Nobel Peace Prize after all!   

Medical Advice

Though I retired more than 10 years ago, I did not cancel my MD license for another five years or so.  It was at that point that I determined I was not keeping up with the latest developments in medicine and had no business treating patients.

On the other hand, my training and practice experience allows me to offer general medical advice to family and friends, primarily related to healthy lifestyle practices, the potential significance of symptoms that they might have and whom they should consult for their medical evaluation.  I am also compelled to intervene in medical emergencies that I might come across.

But my most urgent advice to the general public is to trust their physician for medical prevention and treatment recommendations, not an untrained, conspiracy-minded, political hack who is running our Department of Health & Human Services and derailing medical research.  His advice is both worthless and dangerous.  RFK Jr. and those who willingly placed him in office should be prosecuted for endangering the current and future health of the American public.  Let's hope he is also impeached once the coming Blue Wave restores the integrity of Congress. 

A Circuit of Mystery

Today, per our human calendar, we begin another revolution around Mother Sun.  On average, we can expect to make about 80 circuits during the course of our life, though, as we know, many die well before that period is achieved.

As we begin the year, its course is a mystery and some of us may not be around to witness its end.  We may encounter wonderful opportunities or an unexpected tragedy.  We may meet individuals who complicate our life or someone who enriches it.  We may fall in love or experience the onset of an enduring heartache.

Of course, it is how we deal with such gifts and challenges that determines the course of this year and those that may or may not follow.  Best wishes for a happy and rewarding 2026.