Reassured at Eagle Bluffs

Despite the cool, cloudy weather and continued dryness at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, a friend and I were reassured that spring moves on.  Eight great egrets graced the refuge, the first we have encountered this year.

Common summer residents in central Missouri, these stately birds favor shallow lakes and wetlands where they feast on a wide variety of invertebrates, fish, amphibians and small reptiles.  They usually roost and nest in colonies, often in the company of other waders, and, by late summer, begin to gather in large flocks.  Most winter in the Gulf Coast States or along the lower Mississippi Valley.

For now, the egrets are relative loners, scattered about the refuge and lending their beauty to the rather drab, early spring landscape.  For that and for their promise of warmer and more colorful days ahead, we were grateful. 

High Risk Storm Days

In the not-so-distant past, the National Weather Service would issue "High Risk Storm Day" warnings on several days through the spring and summer months.  On such days, the atmosphere is primed for severe weather (tornados, large hail, torrential rain, destructive winds, flooding), triggered by powerful storm systems as they move eastward across the country.  Today is the second warning already issued this year.

Now centered over the upper Midwest, today's storm is relatively slow moving and its trailing cold front is expected to unleash both severe weather and extensive flooding from Arkansas east-northeastward through the Ohio River Valley.  North of the central low, snow will fall from the Northern Plains to the Upper Great Lakes.

As we approach the historic peak of the severe weather season in the American Heartland, it is clear that climate change is augmenting the effect of these storms (not to mention the intensity of hurricanes to our southeast).  Benign storm fronts have been relegated to our past and high risk storm days have become the norm. 

Flashback Post LXIV

March and April tend to be fickle months in the American Heartland, a fact I acknowledged in a post back on April 1, 2012.

See: Fooled by March 

The King's Museum

Determined to rewrite American History, King Trump has ordered that the Smithsonian Institution be cleansed of any displays that reflect poorly on America.  I suspect this might include such events as the Salem witch trials, slavery, anti-war protests, the detention of Japanese Americans during WWII and the relocation of Native American tribes, among many others.

Project Whitewash, a term I suggest, would purify the King's museum and emphasize the fact that only white Christians are true Americans and that racism does not exist in this country.  All "foreigners" will gladly be deported to their homelands.

One suspects our King plans to rename the Smithsonian after himself at some point.  After all, the MAGA movement now defines American culture and Trump is its supreme leader. 

The Myanmar Earthquake

The tragic, 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar this week occurred along fault lines between the Indian and Eurasian Plates.  The former continues to push NNE into the latter, forcing up the Himalayas and producing frequent earthquakes in that area.  Adding to tectonic pressure within that region is the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the southeast portion of the Eurasian Plate.

While these powerful earthquakes seem to have a predilection for impoverished countries, where the houses and buildings do not meet modern codes, this is a false narrative.  That assumption is derived from the fact that much of the planet remains relatively "underdeveloped."  Of course, our brief time on Earth also fosters that conclusion.

Here in the U.S., most quakes have been relatively mild over the past Century but major, destructive events lie ahead, especially along the West Coast (an Active Margin).  We can contribute to relief efforts and, perhaps, improve our quake prediction accuracy but we will never control tectonic activity. 

Floodplain Desert

For the first time in more than twenty years of visiting Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, I found that the refuge was nearly devoid of water this morning.  One shallow lake and scattered pools along the central channel offered the only evidence of "wetland habitat."

A modest number of ducks and shorebirds clustered at the oases; blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and northern shovelers dominated the waterfowl while pectoral sandpipers, killdeer and lesser yellowlegs were the only shorebirds I encountered.  Augmenting the feel of a desert landscape, at least 75 turkey vultures perched in the trees or soared above the floodplain; other raptors included four bald eagles, three northern harriers and a lone red-tailed hawk.

Local and visiting birders are surely disappointed by the arid state of the refuge during the heart of the spring migration.  Likely more disturbed are the nesting pair of bald eagles, deprived of the abundant fish and waterfowl that usually inhabit the refuge at this time of year.

Trump attacks our Legal System

Having set our economy on a course toward stagflation, King Trump has now turned his wrath on the legal system.  Long a harsh critic of judges who have ruled against him, he has now threatened law firms that defend individuals or corporations who disagree with his policies.

Just the latest step toward dictatorship, this move has been resisted by many judges and some of the law firms; other firms and a good number of corporations, lacking a moral backbone, seem to be complying with his edicts.

Many warned that Trump's election would threaten our democracy and our personal freedoms.  That is now increasingly clear.  No sense waiting any longer; it is time for a third Impeachment and for Republican Senators to defend law and order in America. 

Dependent Husbands

Throughout my medical career and now as a patient myself, I have seen them hundreds of times: husbands unable to speak for themselves.  Of course, I am not referring to those who are demented or severely handicapped; rather, I speak of husbands who stand by as they are registered by their wife and, later, as she provides his history.

Many might blame the domineering wife, allowing her husband to speak only when given clearance to do so.  But I blame the husbands, having become totally dependent on their wives for what is surely most aspects of their marriage.  One rarely encounters the opposite scenario; in my experience, women are far less likely to give up control.

As a physician, I would often have to intervene, explaining the importance of hearing directly from the individual with the symptoms.  Now, I can only shake my head in quiet disgust, knowing what will soon unfold in the exam room. 

The Skinks Resurface

Yesterday, I heard rustling in the leaves along our Columbia house and suspected that a five-lined skink had resurfaced from its winter burrow following our recent, mild weather.  That suspicion was confirmed this afternoon as a large, male skink scurried across the deck.

While another cold spell may send them back to their burrows, it is time to bulk up on larvae, insects, spiders and fruit if encountered.  As I have reported in the past,  these reptiles frequently visit our compost bin to gnaw on our kitchen waste and to feast on invertebrates drawn to the handouts.

Mating will generally take place in May and the young, with their bright-blue tails, seem to be everywhere by mid summer.  Though harmless, these active creatures tend to spook children (and some adults) since they are a bit snake-like in appearance.  The rest of us just enjoy watching their antics, squeezing through the narrowest crevices in search of prey.  

Calling Peter

This morning, a tufted titmouse called incessantly from our neighbor's tree.  Phonetically described as "Peter-peter-peter," the call is common background noise in the suburbs of the Central and Eastern U.S.

Though very common in that region, this small, attractive songbird is known primarily to birders and to those who put out sunflower feeders or suet.  Their diet consists mostly of insects and larvae but seeds and berries are also consumed, especially during the winter months.

As much as I enjoy having them around, their call can be annoying at times, especially for those of us who like to read outside.  Then again, who am I, a member of the most annoying species on the planet, to complain about their loud, ringing call; it is, after all, purely instinctual. 

Low Water at Eagle Bluffs

On this beautiful, March morning in central Missouri, a friend and I arrived at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area to find that someone had turned off the spigot.  A shallow stream of water occupied the central channel and most side pools were nearly dry.  Only the southern portion of the refuge held a fair amount of water.

Nevertheless, the spring migration was well underway.  Waterfowl were dominated by northern shovelers, blue-winged teal and green-winged teal with lesser numbers of ring-necked ducks, mallards, redheads, northern pintails and a lone American wigeon.  Extensive mudflats had attracted a mix of shorebirds, especially pectoral sandpipers and yellowlegs (lesser and greater).  A flock of American white pelicans lounged on an island and killdeer raced across the mudflats.  Raptors included three bald eagles (two adults at the nest and an immature in flight) and a northern harrier.

The reason for the low water continues to baffle us, especially during the spring migration.  If more water is not released, the turnout of grebes, cormorants, diving ducks, coot, gulls and terns will be significantly diminished this year. 

Descending into Spring

When we left Colorado, yesterday, there were few signs of spring; a slight greening of the "grass," and sprigs of grape hyacinth foliage offered the only color on our Littleton farm.  Heading east following the blizzard on the Great Plains, we arrived at our Columbia, Missouri, home after dark; we had travelled about 700 miles and descended 4700 feet in elevation.

This morning, we awoke to find our magnolias and forsythia in bloom and clumps of bulb plants adorning the yard .  We had clearly descended into the Midwestern spring from the late-winter atmosphere of the Front Range.  As any observant nature buff knows, seasonal change is not merely related to latitude; altitude plays a significant role as well.

Though I had hoped to observe migrant geese, sandhill cranes or American white pelicans on our journey, none appeared in the clear, blue sky.  Tomorrow, I return to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area after a long absence.  A report will follow. 

Delayed by a Blizzard

Having plans to head back to Missouri this morning, we left Denver under cloudy skies with little warning of what would soon change our plans.  By the time we reached the east side of town, flashing highway signs warned that Interstate 70 was closed, all the way to the Kansas border.

A detour to the south was considered, but snow and high winds had also closed Interstate 25 at the Palmer Divide, between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs.  In both cases, the amount of snow was not excessive but the high winds created blinding conditions for drivers.  Counterclockwise winds around another potent storm system, centered over northwest Missouri this morning, were augmented by clockwise winds around high pressure to our north.

Returning to our Littleton farm, we hoped that conditions might improve by afternoon but, as I write this post, sections of I-70 remain closed; indeed, during the peak of the storm, most of the Interstate between Denver and Salina, Kansas, was shut down.  Though we almost always pay close attention to weather on the Great Plains before planning to cross them, we were clueless this morning and will have to delay our journey until tomorrow. 

Late Season Chinooks

Front Range chinooks are comparable to Santa Ana winds in California.  High pressure, west of the Continental Divide, and low pressure east of the mountains combine to produce strong, downsloping winds that heat up as they descend.  These winds are especially strong in the canyons of the Front Range where they may cause damage and trigger wildfires.

During the winter months, chinooks are often responsible for the warm, sunny interludes that characterize this region.  These "snow-eater" winds also rapidly melt snow along the urban corridor, facilitating the clearance of roads and driveways.

Yesterday's chinooks had no snow to remove from Metro Denver but pushed afternoon temperatures into the low 70s F.  If this year is typical, we may need their magic right through April. 

Silencing Truth

King Trump's latest edict is to dismantle the Voice of America, long a source of truth across the globe.  That organization was established to spread democratic philosophy among citizens of autocratic countries.

While our King might explain that this move is just another cost-cutting measure, he, like other would-be dictators, is threatened by freedom and truth.  Trump wants to control the news as much as possible; as we know, he frequently attacks news organizations throughout his own kingdom that question his unbridled authority.

To date, there has been inadequate push back on King Trump's policies.  Democratic politicians seem to be focused on the 2026 midterms but that may be too late to save our democracy, our economy, our international relationships, our rule of law and our social support systems.  This latest move to silence truth should be a clarion call to vigorously oppose Trump before the damage is irreversible. 

Confidence in Sports

Over the next few weeks, many of us will be watching the NCAA basketball tournament and several major PGA tournaments.  We all have our favorite teams and players but come to understand that their success will rely on confidence as much as it does on talent.

Those who participate in sports as individuals (golf, tennis, etc.) often go on long winning or losing streaks; in both cases, confidence (or lack thereof) plays a significant role.  In team sports, confidence (or lack thereof) seems to be contagious, usually triggered by the performance (and mindset) of the star player(s).

Good coaches instill confidence as much as they teach fundamentals and techniques.  But, in the end, confidence is a fragile trait and the outcome of major sporting events tends to reflect its presence or absence.

See also: Advantage: Underdogs   

A Massive Wind Storm

A powerful storm is moving across the Great Plains this afternoon, currently centered over southern Nebraska.  Ahead of the storm's cold front, strong, southwesterly winds are producing blinding dust storms and a high risk of wildfires across the Southern Plains.

Farther east and closer the the storm's center, a line of severe thunderstorms is marching across the Midwest.  Blizzard conditions are expected on the Northern Plains while a high risk of tornados has been issued for the Gulf Coast States and the front pushes eastward.

Such storm systems are common in spring but, once again, their power will continue to intensify as our climate warms.  Here along the Front Range, we are on the back side of the monster storm and downsloping, northwest winds have pushed our afternoon high into the mid 50s F.  Had the storm tracked farther to our south, an upslope snowstorm would be in progress. 

Environmental Injustice

Today, King Trump's EPA Director announced that the Division of Environmental Justice and its many grants will be cancelled.  Established during the Clinton Administration, in the 1990s, this Division worked to ensure that low income communities are not exposed to toxic pollution from nearby industrial plants.

Explaining their decision to eliminate the Division, the Director offered more than the standard cost reduction argument.  He also suggested that the Division has engaged in reverse discrimination, funneling protection to lower income citizens (i.e. persons of color) at the expense of others (white folk).  Once again, the King's agenda is driven by racism and wealth accumulation.

One suspects this is just one of many steps that Trump and his Court will take to dismantle the EPA.  After all, they can't abide tree-hugging liberals, wringing our hands about pollution, habitat loss and climate change.