Watching for Summer Birds

It is that time of year when summer avian residents begin arriving from their wintering areas to our south; indeed, quite a few species have already been reported, though I have only observed tree swallows, eastern phoebes, pied-billed grebes and a scissor-tailed flycatcher (the first seen in Columbia this spring and the earliest I have ever observed one in Missouri, on April 3).

Though my success is clearly behind many local birders, the joy of observing new arrivals is always worth the effort.  Among the species already documented by others have been green herons, soras, a Virginia rail, northern rough-winged swallows, yellow-throated vireos, yellow-throated warblers and blue-gray gnatcatchers.

One need not travel to nature preserves to observe summer residents; in fact, many can be found in the average backyard.  Join the search and join eBird to report your sightings!  Your data will help to monitor the health of our avian populations.

Deception from Space

For many of us, the highlight of manned or unmanned space flights is the opportunity to observe our beautiful home planet from a distance.  Of course, the apparent tranquility on Earth is an illusion.

Since life first evolved in Earth's ancient seas, its tenacity has been tested by cataclysmic events and the ongoing process of geologic evolution.  Though we humans, relative newcomers on the planet, have benefited from large brains, our period of stewardship has been hampered by mysticism, racism, nationalism and a quest for wealth and power.  Natural ecosystems, the source of all life on our planet, have been threatened by human overpopulation, pollution, excessive consumption and relentless development.  Now, man-induced climate change challenges the welfare of all species, humans included.

So enjoy the glorious spectacle from space and try not to dwell on the realities of life on Earth.

Easter Eagles

Birding along the Missouri River on this sunny but cool Easter morning, I observed a pair of adult bald eagles, perched in a large tree along the swollen stream.  They were fitting symbols on this holiday of rebirth, having made a dramatic comeback from the widespread decimation caused by DDT use; large raptors were especially impacted since they are apex predators.

Of course, Rachel Carson has long been honored for calling attention to the indiscriminate use of that pesticide in her 1962 book, Silent Spring.  Though its use was finally banned in the United States in 1972, DDT was still employed for decades elsewhere and remains in use in some African countries today.

Proud of our decision to ban DDT, we Americans continue to use many other herbicides and pesticides that likely accumulate in our bodies, causing disease not yet associated with their presence.  See my recent post on Parkinson's Disease.

Crossing Soggy Farmland

Following another night of steady, sometimes heavy rain, I set out for the farmlands east of Columbia this morning.  There the soil was saturated and the drainage channels, recently desiccated, were free flowing streams; shallow lakes filled low points in the fields.

As one might expect, American robins were the most common birds, scouring the muddy landscape for invertebrates.  Birding highlights included red-tailed hawks, a lone wild turkey, a pair of wood ducks and a belted kingfisher.

Though cloudy skies, chilly air and a stiff, northwest wind were not terribly inviting, the soggy landscape was reassuring after our prolonged regional drought.  I'm sure the wild, farmland residents would agree.   

Glorious Rain

Over the past few days, we have received a copious amount of rain in Columbia, thanks to a slow moving storm system that has pulled up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.  Since most of Missouri has been in a long term drought, the rain has been more than welcome.

During a break in the precipitation this morning, a friend and I visited Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area where the rain had significantly increased water levels; indeed, based on my past experience, they were above normal for early April.  Once again, blue-winged teal dominated the floodplain but we were fortunate to encounter a female bufflehead, 75 pied-billed grebes (well above usual counts for that species), two bald eagles and the first scissor-tailed flycatcher of the season; 23 avian species were observed during our two hour visit.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast to return tonight as the next Pacific storm drops in from the Northern Plains and intermittent periods of rain are expected over the coming week.  Perhaps our prolonged drought in central Missouri will finally be broken. 

Humans, Earth & Space

Watching the Artemis II Launch last evening, which will take four astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972,  I surely admired the courage of those human explorers and the skills of the engineers who designed and constructed their modern space ship.

On the other hand, in this technological age, one wonders why the lives of humans must be placed at risk, however committed they might be to participate.  Can we not learn as much by launching unmanned and less expensive probes?  Can we not benefit as much from using high-tech equipment to unlock the mysteries of space and to utilize that knowledge to improve the lives of humans on Earth?

Finally, does our commitment to space exploration siphon funds from programs that might better serve humanity?  Indeed, the degradation of our home planet's natural ecosystems serves to justify the potential need to escape to the Moon, to Mars and beyond.  At this point in history, it seems far more likely that we humans will become extinct on Earth before we colonize space.

Addendum:  To date, the Artemis program has cost 93 billion dollars; yesterday's launch cost 4.2 billion dollars. 

Our Warm Weather Duck

As the water level continues to fall at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, the number of most duck species has fallen significantly.  An exception are blue-winged teal which usually begin to arrive in mid March and reach peak numbers by mid April.  I counted 750 of these warm weather ducks on the refuge this am (no doubt a conservative estimate).

Having wintered from the southern U.S. to northern portions of South America, blue-wings are the last ducks to appear in the spring and the first to migrate south in the fall, generally moving through Missouri in September and early October.

It is thus no surprise that the falling water level at Eagle Bluffs and our recent warm temperatures (expected to reach 80 degrees F today) have encouraged most ducks to depart for cooler, northern climes while blue-winged teal are perfectly content to feed in the shallows and bask in the sun.  By May, most will have moved on to the northern tier of the U.S. and across Canada.  One might suggest that they are more like humans than our other duck species. 

A Dramatic Rise in Parkinson's Disease

Those of us of a certain age are especially prone to review obituaries, anticipating the deaths of individuals who played an important role in our lives.  Of course, these persons may have been friends, politicians, musicians, performers, writers or other newsmakers and celebrities.

Lately, my perusal of the obits has turned up a surprising number of deaths from Parkinson's Disease.  In turn, a brief review of the literature revealed that it is now the fasting growing neurodegenerative disorder across the globe.  While advanced age (65 or over) and male gender have long been recognized as major risk factors, environmental pollutants, especially pesticides and herbicides, are thought to be playing a significant role in the dramatic rise in the incidence of this disease.

Indeed, Parkinson's Disease is most common in industrial regions of the globe and in areas where suspected chemical agents are regularly used (e.g. agriculture).  Our prolonged inattention to the potential effects of many chemicals and other pollutants, now accumulating in our environment and in our bodies, is responsible for many serious health problems in humans and in other animal populations.  

No Kings III

Having attended the first two No Kings rallies in Colorado, I joined my wife to attend the No Kings III protest in Columbia, Missouri, today.  The turnout was excellent but, in my opinion, the format could have been more effective.

During the first half of the rally, participants gathered to mill about, greet each other and listen to a series of speeches and musical performances.  In other words, we were reinforcing each other's commitment to dislodge Trump and his Republican apologists from office; the phrase "preaching to the choir" repeatedly came to mind.  When finally released to disperse along Broadway, in downtown Columbia, our varied messages were directed toward passersby, hopefully encouraging them to consider the varied negative consequences of Trump's second term.  Of course, signs referred to the Iran War, the atrocities of Ice thugs, the Epstein saga, the Administration's anti-science stance, Trump's disastrous economic policies and malignant narcissism and the failure of Republicans to reign him in and to protect our Democracy.

Despite the criticism expressed above, it was an honor to participate in No Kings III.  Hopefully, other rallies will follow until the scourge of Trumpism is but a fading nightmare in America.

Denver in Stage 1 Drought

Following a nearly snowless winter in Metro Denver and the lowest mountain snowpack in decades, Denver Water has declared a Stage 1 drought, encouraging residents not to start watering their lawns until mid May (at the earliest) and limiting that activity to two days per week.  Time will tell if those restrictions need to be increased.

Anyone who understands the ramifications of global warming and has witnessed the ongoing sprawl along the Colorado Front Range is not surprised that this water emergency has developed.  Though it might be a temporary drought with recovery through the spring, it is a clear warning sign that climate change will likely produce significant water shortages across the arid and semi-arid ecosystems of the American West.

Fortunately, rain and snow are forecast to arrive in the coming week but the long term risk of drought is significant.  One hopes that reduced "development" will be employed to meet the challenges of our warming climate. 

Seasonal Progress at Eagle Bluffs

On this sunny, warm morning at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, water levels had fallen but the absolute number of waterfowl had increased, especially for blue-winged teal.  Northern shovelers and American coot remained abundant while the number of gadwall had increased significantly.  Fourteen pied-billed grebes were observed and, to my relief, great blue herons seem to be returning to the refuge.

On the other hand, raptors were limited to turkey vultures, a red-tailed hawk and a lone northern harrier.  In addition, other avian residents remain rather sparse with the exception of northern flickers, crows and red-winged blackbirds.

Most rewarding were the sightings of a double-crested cormorant and a flock of American golden plovers, the first I have encountered this spring.  No doubt, the pace of new visitors and summer residents will pick up significantly in April and our long avian drought at Eagle Bluffs will finally come to an end.

 

Don Quixote Trump

Donald Trump, while not nearly as noble as his literary counterpart and backed by an entire political party rather than just Sancho Panza, is tilting at windmills again.  Offering to pay 1 billion of our tax dollars to cancel a wind farm off New England, Our Dear Leader has repeatedly demonstrated his disdain for green energy, especially wind power.

Preferring to bring back the coal industry and dedicated to maximizing our use of fossil fuels, he has withdrawn federal funding that was in place to encourage the production of electric vehicles and to facilitate solar, wind and geothermal projects.  Of course, he can count on his Cabinet and most Republican members of Congress for their active or passive support.

But as with Don Quixote, Trump's enemies are imaginary.  He has no knowledge of or interest in climatology and he only hires those who share his non-scientific, pro-oil view.  Having threatened the global oil supply with his ill-advised war in Iran, his Dulcinea may remain out of reach.   

Fish Crows in Columbia

Commonly observed along the Missouri River, especially during the warmer months, a small flock of fish crows flew over our yard in Columbia late this afternoon.  They were the first I have ever observed within the city limits.

Most abundant along coastal areas of the Southeastern U.S., fish crows have been expanding their range over the past decade or so, spreading inland along the major rivers.  There they forage across floodplains and nearby farmlands but seldom stray far from the streams, their marshes and their riparian woodlands.

Distinguished from American crows by their smaller size and distinctive "uh-uh" calls, it was their voice that caught my attention this afternoon.  Since we have owned a condo on Longboat Key, Florida, for many years, I associate their calls with that coastal location; apparently, we now own two properties within their range.  

More Lesser Scaup

Over the past 20 years, I have frequently encountered lesser scaup at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area during the spring and fall migrations.  However, they have generally appeared in rather small numbers, from single individuals or pairs to small flocks.

But this past weekend, I observed a flock of 40 lesser scaup, cruising on the deeper channel where they intermittently dove for aquatic vegetation or invertebrates.  Having wintered across the southern States and Mexico, they will head for Western Canada or the Intermountain West to summer and breed.

Often seen in large flocks during winter, mingling with other diving ducks, lesser scaup prefer larger lakes and reservoirs during migrations, choices not available at Eagle Bluffs where rather shallow pools dot the Missouri River floodplain.  Indeed, surface-feeding ducks, such as mallards, northern shovelers, gadwall, wigeon and teal generally dominate the scene. 

Flashback Posts LXXIV & LXXV

As March Madness unfolds and the brackets fill in, I am always reminded of two posts that seem especially relevant during the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  Though I have used them as Flashback Posts in the past, I have not placed their messages side by side.....until now.

See:  Advantage Underdogs and Rooting for Champions

The Kona Low

Severe flooding across Oahu, Hawaii, is the product of an unusually potent and persistent Kona Low.  The latter is a center of low pressure that typically develops northwest of the Hawaiian Islands during the winter months, sweeping tropical moisture across that archipelago from the southwest.

Held in place by an atmospheric trough (a dip in the jet stream), this "cutoff low"generally persists for a few weeks, producing a typical rainy season.  This year, the Kona Low developed relatively late in the winter but its strength and persistence has led to the torrential precipitation and record flooding.

Of interest, this atmospheric trough over the Pacific is tied to the persistent atmospheric ridge over the Desert Southwest, which has fueled the severe heat that is currently spreading eastward across the U.S.  Climatologists believe that both extremes demonstrate the effects of our warming climate.

A Dome of Summer Heat

Having produced record high temperatures across the Desert Southwest over the past few days, a ridge of high pressure is expanding eastward and will set records across much of the U.S.  Within this dome, air is sinking, heating up and drying out.

Unlike our usual summer heat waves, during which high humidities moderate the temperature and keep nocturnal lows relatively warm, this dry, desert heat will cause unusually high afternoon temperatures while permitting overnight lows to fall into the 40s and 50s F.

Here in Missouri, we will experience afternoon highs in the 80s F for the next few days with overnight lows in the low 50s.  Spring is just beginning and this taste of summer will fade quickly; on the other hand, this atmospheric dome may portend warmer springs as climate change progresses. 

Course Correction

Back in November of 2006, when I began writing blog posts, their subject matter was primarily focused on natural ecosystems, wildlife and conservation.  Before long, I drifted toward discussions regarding threats to our natural environment, including unbridled development, pollution and mysticism.

Early on, I could not have imagined that our own political system, led by an anti-science narcissist, would become the primary threat to the health of our society and the welfare of our planet's natural ecosystems.  Surely, in America, educated members of both political parties would not let this happen; after all, they have children and grandchildren who will suffer the consequences of such short-sighted policies.

Of course, my hopeful view of the future, based on the projected advance of science, has been derailed by the Trump Administration and by the Republican Party in general.  Now, twenty years later, a large percentage of the posts are focused on political threats to our freedom, our health and our commitment to conservation.  It is not enough to report on the wonders of nature when the welfare of or planet is under relentless attack. 

Freedom of the Press

Since the Republicans in Congress are unwilling to reign in the anti-democratic policies and actions of the Trump Administration, it has been up to the Judiciary and the Press to protect the rights of Americans.  Now, defying our Constitution, Brendan Carr, the FCC Chairman, has threatened to revoke the license of news organizations that report negative information about the Iran War.

Of course, those in the Trump Administration are focused solely on pleasing Our Dear Leader.  Their mission is to support and praise the opinions and actions of the King and, in their minds, truth is what Trump says it is.  Those who speak out against his deranged and dangerous decrees are thus considered to be enemies of the State.

Freedom of the Press is an essential element of our Democracy.  Efforts to control the news that we receive is just the latest and, in my opinion, the most disturbing step toward authoritarian rule.  

Dismantling Science

Among their many efforts to dismantle science, the Trump Administration now plans to shut down the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.  Their reason, according to the Budget Director, is that the Center is the leading force behind "climate change hysteria" in America.

Of course, it is also in a Blue State with a Democratic Governor who King Trump does not like.  Having dramatically reduced funding for medical research and a wide variety of environmental programs, the Administration has set its sights on all forms of science though I suspect military technology will be spared.

As several early spring storm systems have brought tornadic thunderstorms as far north as the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region, formerly unheard of in early March, one would think that climate change deserves a great deal of monitoring and research.  Indeed, the latest storm is bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic Coast this morning and Washington DC lies within the high risk zone for tornadoes.  Perhaps a direct hit on the ballroom might change Our Dear Leader's point of view. 

Escaping the Interstates

Over the last 29 years, since moving to Columbia, Missouri, we have made hundreds of trips to St. Louis and beyond.  During that time, Warrenton, Missouri, was, from my perspective, nothing more than a congested exit along Interstate 70, its immediate roads lined with service stations, fast food joints and strip malls.

Then, yesterday, as we drove to Klondike Park in Augusta, we took the Warrenton Exit and headed south on Route 47.  Within a few blocks, the congestion disappeared and the makings of a pleasant, small town unfolded.  Another couple of miles took us across scenic, rolling farmlands and, ten miles later, we began to descend through the Missouri River Hills, quilted with cattle ranches, vineyards and wineries.  My image of Warrenton had changed dramatically.

Too often, we assess cities and towns from our efficient network of Interstates, judging them as we zip by at 70 mph.  Though these efficient highways often cross scenic landscapes as well, they do little justice to the appeal of human settlements and their associated natural environments.  In my opinion, we should escape our Interstates whenever possible.

See also: Detour to Blue Highways