The Sound of Silence

One of my daughters recently introduced me to a cover of Paul Simon's The Sound of Silence by Disturbed, a group unknown to this child of the Sixties.  While the iconic original can never be replaced, their version is especially haunting and passionate and I recommend a listen, if not a download.

While a songwriter's message is open to interpretation, I always believed that Simon spoke to America's indifference in the face of social injustice and the smoldering conflict that would become the Vietnam War.  Released in 1964, The Sound of Silence thus seems especially relevant today, as Trump dismantles our Constitution while a corrupt Supreme Court and cowardly Republican Senators fail to act.

We must all speak out in any way that we can; in Paul's words, "silence like a cancer grows."  

A Spring Beauty Bonanza

Amidst the dandelions, wild violets and wild onions that adorn our Columbia lawn each spring are clumps of spring beauty.  This attractive perennial is common in woodlands and on suburban lawns, sometimes appearing as early as February.

Spring beauty overwinters as a corm and spreads by rootlets.  It is in the diet of many mammals and attracts a variety of pollinating insects; humans have long used the corms as a source of food.

But most of us appreciate these flowers primarily for their beauty and we have been granted a bonanza in our backyard this spring.  Conditions must have been just right to produce the impressive bloom. 

Solitude at Eagle Bluffs

On this sunny, cool, April morning, I encountered only one other vehicle at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area; even that distant car seemed to be moving a bit too fast for a birder.  Indeed, as the channel and pools have been drained and as wetland habitat continues to shrink, few waterfowl and shorebirds are stopping by and avid birders have abandoned the refuge in concert.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the solitude and observed 25 avian species, including a barred owl, perched on a metal gate; a pair of bald eagles, two red-tailed hawks and about 60 turkey vultures rounded out the raptors.  Great blue herons and great egrets fed in the shrinking shallows while killdeer and a few lesser yellowlegs scoured the mudflats.  Waterfowl were dominated by green-winged teal, joined by small numbers of gadwall, blue-winged teal and northern shovelers.

I certainly understand the reluctance of many birders to visit the dried-up refuge; there are plenty of other wetland destinations in our region that will be far more "productive."  It is disturbing to observe what has transpired at Eagle Bluffs, especially in April when the floodplain is usually teeming with waterfowl.  Nevertheless, I'll keep stopping by to witness the devastation; besides, the summer songbirds should be arriving soon.  

The Fulcrum of Sorrow

I suspect most humans have endured a significant episode of sorrow in their lives: the early death of a family member or close friend, the failure of a relationship, the loss of a cherished job, among others.  While we try to compartmentalize that event, it stays with us, surfacing consciously or unconsciously throughout our life.

At times, the sorrow might be disabling, robbing us of happiness and masking whatever success we have achieved.  Whether we blame ourselves, others or simple "fate" for the event, it influences our beliefs and our behavior.  Counseling may or may not become necessary but, in either case, the sorrow cannot be completely expunged.

Most of us learn to live learn to live with its effects, buoyed by the many positive experiences of our life, but some succumb to the sadness, turning to substance abuse or worse.  Knowing that sorrow is a common element of the human condition may offer some peace of mind. 

Stationary Misery

For the last two days and for the coming 24 hours (at least), a stationary front has stretched from East Texas to the Upper Ohio Valley, separating cooler air to the north from warm, humid air to the south.  This front is responsible for the swath of tornados, severe thunderstorms and flooding rains that have plagued that region.

While most storm systems move rapidly from west to east, some stall out, their trailing front creating a clash zone between the air masses.  When this happens, secondary storms and their precipitation train above the same swath of geography, producing the unrelenting rain we have seen this week.  Once the soil is saturated, runoff rapidly fills and then floods the rivers and streams, spilling across floodplains and often taking out bridges and riverside structures.

Unfortunately, this flooding often does not peak until the storm system has finally moved on to the east.  As the swollen tributaries empty into larger streams and rivers, the latter continue to rise long after the skies have cleared. 

The King benefits Nature

King Trump is not a naturalist.  He intends to slash environmental regulations and increase fossil fuel production.  He wants to severely reduce protected habitat in this country and to expand "development" wherever possible.  He is all about personal consumption, upscale recreation and a lavish lifestyle.

Yet, the King's rabid use of tariffs may benefit nature.  Individual savings are falling, prices are rising and a trade war is underway.  A tanking economy will greatly diminish corporate investment, personal spending, travel and recreational activity.  In a nutshell, human consumption may greatly fall in this country and across the globe.

Such a reduction in personal consumption is the major way by which all of us can do our part in rescuing the planet.  How ironic that the king of consumption is leading this conservation movement (not that he would admit it). 

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.