Meeting a friend at South Platte Park this morning, we were greeted by a strong and desiccating southwest wind. As expected, this kept the songbirds huddled in the shrubs and thickets but it certainly appealed to the raptors.
During our visit, we encountered an osprey, two bald eagles (an adult and an immature), two turkey vultures and an American kestrel. While the others were cavorting in the wind, the kestrel was having breakfast atop a bluebird box, much to the chagrin of tree swallows that were nesting there. Double-crested cormorants and great blue herons seemed to enjoy the wind as well, catching a ride as they traversed the refuge.
But the most noticeable feature of the Park was the ongoing drought, which has significantly lowered water levels in the South Platte River and its adjacent lakes. Indeed, I do not recall levels this low over the past three decades. Though rain is forecast to arrive this weekend, it will take an early and long-lasting monsoon to produce a significant recovery along the Front Range.
