First Signs of the Monsoon

Over the past few days, scattered showers and a few thunderstorms indicated that the high pressure dome, responsible for our persistent hot, dry weather, was beginning to shift eastward  Yesterday, a dense swath of clouds formed above the Front Range, shrouding the higher peaks.  A glance at the radar revealed an arc of precipitation, from West Texas to the Four Corners region and continuing northeastward to the Front Range.

This pattern is typical of the Southwestern Monsoon, as Gulf of Mexico moisture flows along the outer rim of the high pressure dome; the latter is typically centered over the Southern Plains.  Here in Metro Denver, it's welcome, late-day storms generally arrive by late July or August.

By yesterday afternoon, cloud cover had spread across the city and, just before 6 PM, glorious rain drenched our Littleton farm; periods of rainfall are expected to increase through the week as the monsoon intensifies.  Nevertheless, summer heat is far from over and our warming climate will have an uncertain impact on this annual weather event.  

Debby Floods the Southeast

After raking the Gulf Coast of the Florida Peninsula with strong winds, heavy rain and tornados, Hurricane Debby made landfall in the State's Big Bend area this morning, producing a storm surge of six feet or more.  Despite all of this havoc, the storm's wrath may increase as it stalls over southern Georgia and South Carolina, dropping up to two feet of rain as it pulls in moisture from the Atlantic.

Though not a powerful hurricane, Debby will deliver copious tropical moisture to the region, fed by the very warm ocean waters.  Since there is no approaching front to force the storm out to sea, extensive flooding is expected.

Once again, our warming climate is fueling the development of more tropical storms and augmenting their destructive effects.  Unless we take this problem seriously, the welfare of communities and ecosystems across the globe will be threatened.  Vote Democratic!  

Subjective Sports

Whenever I tune into the Olympics, I prefer to watch objectively measured sporting events, those in which outcomes are measured by the parameters of time, distance, weight, scored points, accuracy, etc.

Subjective sports, such as gymnastics and diving, rely on the assessment of judges.  While I'm sure that most try to be accurate and fair, they are humans, subject to the influence of expectation, anticipation and, dare I suggest, bias.  Though I certainly admire the athletic skills of the competitors, I find that the scoring system is painfully fickle.

No doubt, once again, my naturalist philosophy plays into my sports watching preference.  After all, natural predators and their prey species survive based on their physical prowess (speed, strength, agility), not on specific performance criteria.  Nature is neither judgmental nor subjective.

Disappointment at the Canyon

Clear Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, rises along the Continental Divide and descends eastward, rumbling onto the Piedmont at Golden, Colorado.  Below Idaho Springs, it has carved a narrow, scenic canyon through the foothills (photo).

Always looking for a new trail to explore, we discovered that the Peak to Plains Trail, not yet completed, will parallel Clear Creek through this canyon.  Having not been in Clear Creek Canyon for a decade or more, we headed for the Big Easy Trailhead, which provides access to a completed section of the trail.

To my dismay, we discovered that the new route is a paved hike-bike trail, built into the south wall of the canyon and accessed by rusted-metal bridges from parking lots along the canyon road; newer sections are completed or under construction near Golden.  While this concrete path will permit access to handicapped individuals and (perhaps) keep cyclists off the winding (and dangerous) road, it is, in my opinion, an extension of suburbia into the canyon ecosystem.  Despite heroic work and what has surely been an exorbitant expense, I must register my disappointment. 

Hovering Grasshoppers

Sitting in the shade on another hot, sunny day along the Front Range, I watched a small group of grasshoppers, hovering above our burned-out "lawn."  Though I have often seen them making brief flights between feeding areas, I don't recall having observed such prolonged hovering.

Indeed, to my human eye, they resembled a patrol of military choppers, searching for enemies in the grassy tangles below.  In fact, they were likely male grasshoppers, trying to impress females on the ground.  This mating behavior, apparently common, has managed to escape my attention over the years.

Just the latest example of my limited knowledge of the complexity and diversity of nature, despite many years in the field.  We should all acknowledge our incomplete understanding of the natural world and protect as much as possible while it still exists. We depend on her varied ecosystems far more than we are willing to admit. 

Wildfires: Distant & Near

Stuck beneath an atmospheric dome of hot air, the Colorado Front Range cities have also endured incursions of smoke from distant wildfires across the American West.  Yesterday, three separate fires developed along the foothill corridor, from Metro Denver to Estes Park, aggravating the poor air quality.

Despite a good winter and spring snowpack across the Continental Divide, lower elevation ecosystems have been stressed by a hot and unusually dry summer.  Furthermore, yesterday's fires developed on a relatively calm day; high winds, not uncommon here, would have made these flareups far worse.  Unfortunately, at least one individual was killed and hundreds of residents were evacuated.

The Southwest Monsoon generally provides significant precipitation in August and rain is expected by the middle of next week; however, thunderstorms also bring the risk of lightning-induced wildfire.  Finally, as our climate warms, the monsoon season may be altered, adding another level of uncertainty and risk in this fire-prone region.  

Peakview Park

Donated to Jefferson County Open Space and opened in 2018, the 58 acres of Peakview Park stretch across the north wall of the Bear Creek Valley in southwest Metro Denver.  Primarily covered by attractive grassland habitat, the Park also harbors riparian groves of trees and shrubs and is hemmed in by woodlands and a residential area.

Two fine trail loops, one paved and the other earthen, offer access to the Park, where views extend to the southern Foothills and Palmer Divide highlands; Mount Blue Sky and Pike's Peak poke above the swath of foothills.

Today, my wife and I made our first visit to Peakview Park, heading over to hike in the cool morning air.  In addition to the fresh air, exercise and scenic vistas, the Park hosts an excellent variety of Piedmont grassland wildlife.  Western kingbirds were especially common this morning and I suspect that western and mountain bluebirds are common visitors during spring and fall migrations. 

Love & Choice

Romantic love is surely the most complex of human emotions, mediated by all of our senses.  On the other hand, we cannot choose to love someone.

Neither are we loved by choice; rather, love is serendipitous.  Nevertheless, as many humans know, love is not always returned and, even when love is mutual, there is no guarantee of compatibility or ongoing happiness.  True love endures but relationships often fail.

Finally, we may (and often do) love more than one person in our life.  This is complicated by the fact that we cannot choose to unlove anyone. 

The Corruption of Bird Counts

Official bird counts, encouraged by local, State, National and International ornithology organizations, are primarily used to monitor avian populations, ranges and migration patterns.  Such information assists with conservation efforts and provides vital evidence regarding the health of natural ecosystems.

Unfortunately, bird counts have become competitive, partially in response to "birding holidays" and online tracking by eBird and other groups.  As a result, some participants focus on the number of species that they can report, spending several hours at a park or refuge to maximize their count.  In doing so, they tend to ignore the true number of common, "uninteresting" species as they scour the thickets and woods for additions to their list.  They are, it seems, missing the forest for the trees.

Perhaps the data evens out as computers digest the input but individual reports are often suspect.  How someone can observe numerous species over a prolonged visit while reporting only a few sightings of a bird that is especially common during that season is confusing to this birder. 

Flashback Post LVI

Yesterday's hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone National Park, while a threat to nearby humans and wildlife, does not begin to match the eventual volcanic eruption that threatens the region and, potentially, the planet.

See: The Yellowstone Time Bomb

Fractured News

As the Presidential campaigns intensify, Democrats, many Independents and some Republicans are surely energized by the nomination of Kamala Harris.  She and her running mate (yet to be named) will have plenty to say about the many threats to American society that a second Trump Administration would pose.

Their arguments will surely be sincere, accurate and well-delivered but, unfortunately, may only reach about 60% of Americans.  Our fractured news industry consists of conservative channels, liberal channels, traditional news outlets and a vast number of online programs, podcasts and "influencers," some reliable but most fueled by personal opinion, conspiracy theories and a wide variety of misinformation.

Whether we receive the truthful words and sentiments of the Harris campaign will depend on how we receive our news.  Therein lies the challenge for all candidates in modern democracies..  An engaged, open-minded populace has given way to politically entrenched factions, receptive only to their favored source of news. 

Kamala for the Planet!

Now that President Biden has honorably withdrawn from the Presidential race, it will be Kamala Harris and a yet-to-be-named Vice Presidential candidate who will take on Trump and his MAGA cult.  What better candidate to compete with an old, white misogynist, criminal and racist?

No longer hampered by the Biden question, Democrats can now squarely address the many issues that separate Trumpism from the great majority of Americans.  Human rights, reproductive rights, civility, law and order, economic fairness, cooperation with our allies and our democracy itself will now be vigorously defended during this election period.

Finally, America's leadership in addressing threats to our natural environment will be front and center in November.  We will remain committed to the Global Climate Accord and Trump's promise to "drill, drill, drill" will, among many other MAGA decrees, seal his defeat.  Vote for the Planet.  Vote Democratic! 

Birding, Seasons & Climate

Many birders, myself included, primarily enjoy the seasonal aspects of the pastime: witnessing the change in diversity and populations of these mobile creatures throughout the year.  While I do participate in bird counts, it is the ever-changing nature of the overall experience that keeps me enthused.

This morning, at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, I encountered the largest number of great egrets and red-winged blackbirds that I have seen all summer.  The reason, of course, is that they are beginning to gather in larger flocks as their breeding season comes to an end and they prepare for the coming challenges of autumn and winter.  The egrets will migrate to warmer climes while the red-wings will congregate in massive flocks (often in the company of other blackbird species) to improve their chance of finding food and surviving the colder months.

Now, as the climate warms, our life-long observations might become less valid; seasonal ranges and migration patterns will begin to change.  Nevertheless, birding will remain one of the best means of assessing the health of natural ecosystems and field trips will surely retain their appeal. 

Crossing Glacial Landscapes

Returning to Missouri from Northeast Ohio, we crossed a series of glacial landscapes.  While the term "glacial terrain" brings to mind rivers of ice, carving mountains or calving into the sea, past glacial effects are not as evident to the casual traveler.

Having spent a week atop the glaciated region of the Appalachian Plateau, we initially dropped onto the vast Lake Plain of Northern Ohio, the product of Pleistocene glacial erosion and a post-glacial meltwater lake (Lake Warren, the much larger predecessor of Lake Erie).  Angling southwestward  through Northeast Indiana, we soon passed the site of The Maumee Torrent, which marked the birth of the Wabash River Valley.

The remainder of our journey was across the Glaciated Plain of the Midwest, where the Pleistocene glaciers pushed southward, flattening the terrain.  As they retreated, they enriched the soil with glacial till, setting the stage for prairie ecosystems that have since given way to crop fields and cattle ranches.  Of course, the massive sheets of ice also determined the course of the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, which now drain the central U.S., from the Rockies to the Appalachians.

 

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Cuyahoga Valley National Park stretches along the river's lower valley, just south of Metro Cleveland.  The Valley Railroad, established in 1880, carried industrial materials to Akron and Canton until the 1960s.  Taking advantage of its abandoned rails, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad began operation in 1975, offering a unique experience for Park visitors and convenient access for hikers and bikers.

Having visited the Park many times in the past, my wife and I took the train for the first time today.  Currently limited to the stretch between Akron and Peninsula (due to reinforcement construction along the Cuyahoga's banks), the train offers views of the more western sections of the Park, characterized mostly by tracts of forest.  Though some marsh and small lakes are encountered, the river remains unseen until the train approaches Peninsula.  Knowing that more scenic landscapes are found across the Valley (especially along its eastern wall), we were somewhat disappointed by the two-hour round trip.

As a naturalist who supports the exposure of others (especially children) to the sights, sounds and smells of nature, I recommend that the train be converted to open-air cars in which visitors will be more closely exposed to the Park's ecosystems and wildlife.  Transportation should be secondary to education by  immersing riders in the Valley's riparian landscape; of course, stops along the route could be used to offer brief introductions to the natural and historic features of the Cuyahoga Valley.  

West Creek Reservation

This morning, we visited West Creek Reservation, in Parma, Ohio, a relatively new addition to Cleveland's famed Emerald Necklace of parks and preserves.  The creek itself is a tributary of the Cuyahoga River and the Reservation is a combined project of Cleveland Metroparks and the West Creek Conservancy.

Stretching across 278 acres of the creek's upper watershed, the Reservation harbors a pleasing mix of forested hills, a large valley meadow and a long stretch of floodplain woodlands.  It is accessed by a fine network of trails (though the trail to the West Creek Cliffs Scenic Area was unfortunately closed today).  Nevertheless, we managed to complete almost five miles of hiking during our two hour visit and observed a large variety of forest and grassland birds.

In my travels across the country, I have encountered few cities that have protected as much open space as Cleveland has.  Denigrated in the past for its industrial pollution, this city, with its famous river and lakefront, has become a champion of urban conservation.  

Fooled by our Brains

We humans, endowed with a large brain, dominate the planet.  Unfortunately, that dominance has threatened the welfare of all natural ecosystems and their component species.

Since our brain power has also fueled an active imagination, we have concluded that we are the chosen species, created by a god and entrusted with the stewardship of Earth.  Such beliefs have led to our divorce from nature and to its gradual destruction.  Polluted air and water, ecologic disruption and climate change are some of the more significant consequences.

In reality, our planet's ecosystems would thrive in our absence.  Despite what we imagine, we are the most expendable species on Earth.  Accepting that truth and acknowledging the impact of our large brains are the keys to saving our planet. 

Violence, Guns & Politics

Every sane American condemns yesterday's assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.  It was a tragic event  for several individuals and nearly fatal for Trump himself.

Of course, this latest shooting, by a 20-year old man, will not cool the violent rhetoric that has permeated Trump's election campaign; indeed, it will likely energize Trump and his supporters.  Though Republicans have blocked efforts to impose gun control in this country, they will find a way to blame Democrats for the attack.

The motive for this shooting remains uncertain but it was most likely carried out by a disturbed individual with easy access to an assault rifle.  Mass shootings of school children have not turned the tide in America and Trump's close call will only widen the political divide.