First Song of Spring

As winter sets in, birdsong nearly disappears, replaced by the harsh calls of crows, magpies and hawks and the hooting of owls.  The mellow tunes of spring are generally not expected for several months.

Over the past few days, however, I have noticed the welcome song of mourning doves, often wafting through the neighborhood before sunrise.  Triggered by the lengthening hours of sunlight, their hopeful tune may seem out of place amidst the harsh winter weather.

But the seasons are a continuum, not defined by dates on the human calendar.  Great horned owls are already nesting and the early bulb plants will push through the chilly soil within a couple of weeks.  The mourning doves do not "know" this but they certainly sense the coming change and are kind enough to spread the news. 

Crow Island

Birding in the Lower Bonne Femme Valley, southwest of Columbia, this morning, I drove out to the Missouri River where bald eagles often roost in large cottonwoods along the banks.  I did not see any eagles but did observe a flock of American crows, crowded on a rock outcrop in the middle of the river.  The exposed rock was only about 10 feet in diameter and I counted 32 crows.

I initially wondered if they spend the night there to avoid predation but doubt that a sizable flock of aggressive crows would be the target of any nocturnal hunter.  Perhaps it was a gathering point before a day of scavenging regional farmlands but, within ten minutes, they headed off in different directions.

Any experienced birder has regularly encountered much larger flocks of crows (especially in winter) but this morning's sighting was, after 50 years of birding, new to me.  Such is the nature of birding and the reason that we are repeatedly drawn into the great outdoors. 

Impersonal Efficiency

As artificial intelligence is utilized by most retail businesses, we consumers are directed to websites, chat boxes and computerized voices for the answers to our questions.  Whether we are refilling a prescription, have questions about a product, scheduling service or hoping to return merchandise, a kind, empathetic human is often hard to find.

Efficiency is king for the retailers, who can cut their human workforce and collect even more data from their customers.  The dehumanization of commerce is underway and will surely only increase.

Meanwhile, the diminishing opportunity for human communication and interaction is blamed for many ills in modern society.  Social gatherings have been replaced by social media encounters.  We must take the initiative ourselves by joining clubs, shopping in person, attending "live events" and by encouraging our family and friends to do the same.

Weldon Spring Conservation Area

There must be hundreds of Lewis & Clark Hiking Trails between St. Louis and the Pacific Northwest, commemorating the excursion of those adventurers.  One of these is an 8 mile loop at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, on the north wall of the Missouri River Valley, in St. Charles County.

We limited our hike today to a 2 mile section of that loop (4 miles roundtrip) that runs along a ridge top to broad views of the Missouri River (see photo).  The large access lot for this trail is on the south side of Missouri 94, a few miles west of Interstate 64.

An additional treat on this road trip was travel along Missouri 94 as we headed westward back to Columbia.  This paved, 2-lane highway jogs between the River Hills and the broad, flat floodplain of the Missouri River, passing river towns, vineyards, wineries, tree farms and ranches en route.  We recommend this scenic road for those wishing to avoid the congestion and monotony of Interstate 70.

See also:  Up River with Lewis & Clark (and the three posts that follow it)  

Winter Rain

During my youth (ages ago), winter rain was characterized by light, cold showers, often mixed with snow.  Any liquid that reached the ground would usually leave a glaze of ice until the weak, winter sun could melt it away.

Now, as our climate warms, spring-like rains, often accompanied by scattered thunderstorms, have become much more common during the winter months.  Indeed, yesterday morning, a storm system centered over western Kansas swept Gulf of Mexico moisture northward across the Heartland, fueling thunderstorms that dropped torrential rain on central Missouri.  Morning temperatures were in the mid 50s F, reaching the low 60's by early afternoon.

Though I enjoy periods of snow during the winter, cold rain and glazed surfaces have never been among my favorite winter features.  I thus must admit that spring-like storm systems, when devoid of destructive winds, are personally preferred while acknowledging that global warming will bring far greater challenges than icy sidewalks.

The Tool of Violence

Yesterday's killing of a peaceful protestor by an Ice Agent in Minneapolis is the latest use of violence by the Trump Administration; their goal is to foment fear and thereby stifle dissent.  Starting with his violent attempt to overthrow the 2020 election, Trump has unleashed a string of threats against his perceived enemies and is now encouraging violent measures to fulfill his deportation goals.

Of course, his capture of President Maduro and his wife resulted in the death of many Venezuelan guards and military members (and who knows how many innocent civilians).  Occurring on the heels of boat strikes that vaportized more than a hundred "drug traffickers," Trump's plan to take over the country will be a long and violent process, resulting in many deaths on both sides.

Our King is now threatening force in other Western Hemisphere countries that do not comply with his Imperialistic goals.  Republicans, abdicating their role of oversight, fear retribution if they speak out against his Administration.  Only a massive blue wave in November will put an end to the ongoing violence.    

Hiking a Secluded Ridge

Having no plans and promised warmer weather yesterday, my wife and I decided to take a hike at a Missouri Conservation Area that we had not yet visited.  Since we have lived in Columbia for 28 years, that self-imposed criteria took us one hour east of town to Little Lost Creek Conservation Area, southeast of Jonesburg.

Draped across the Little Lost Creek gorge on the north wall of the Missouri River Valley, its trails run atop ridges and along the streams.  Alone at the refuge, we chose a ridge top trail in its southeast quadrant which offered pleasing views along its course (photo).  Joined only by an occasional woodpecker and a flock of juncos, we enjoyed a two-mile roundtrip hike.

Conservation Areas, lacking the amenities of State Parks, offer relative solitude and tranquility.  Unless hunting season is underway, they are recommended destinations for those seeking to immerse themselves in nature.

An Owl in a Box

One of the highlights at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area over the past few months has been the sighting of an eastern screech owl in one of the wood duck boxes.  Common in woodlands throughout the eastern 2/3 of the U.S., these small owls roost and nest in tree cavities or, as in this case, in man-made boxes.

These tiny but aggressive raptors feed on a wide variety of prey, including large insects, amphibians, reptiles, songbirds and small mammals.  They mate for life and generally raise 4-5 young each year.  Though often residents of wooded suburbs, screech owls usually go unnoticed until their eerie calls are heard at dusk.

Yesterday, I was among several birders to pull up across from the nest box at Eagle Bluffs.  The reddish occupant was basking in the sun at the box entrance, a common screech owl practice on cold winter days. 

The Dictator Club

King Trump, without the approval of Congress, attacked Venezuela and captured President Maduro and his wife last night.  Though Maduro has been an illegitimate leader, backed by a powerful militia and citizen gangs, the reason for his capture remains uncertain.

While Maduro has been indicted as a drug trafficker, Trump recently pardoned the former President of Honduras, convicted of bringing tons of cocaine into our country.  Perhaps our Dear Leader wants control of Venezuela's massive oil reserve, though a glut of crude across the globe has dropped its price near an all time low.  Perhaps it was just a power move to shore up his own international image.

After all, King Trump loves dictators; Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un are among his buddies. He admires their power and hopes to match their unchallenged rule.  Maduro may end up in a U.S. prison but the Venezuelan dictatorship will likely endure.  Of more concern to Americans is whether we are headed toward a dictatorship as well. 

Addendum (1/3/26):  Wasting no time and complicating his impulsive show of force, King Trump has announced that the U.S. will now run Venezuela.  Maybe he'll get the Nobel Peace Prize after all!   

Medical Advice

Though I retired more than 10 years ago, I did not cancel my MD license for another five years or so.  It was at that point that I determined I was not keeping up with the latest developments in medicine and had no business treating patients.

On the other hand, my training and practice experience allows me to offer general medical advice to family and friends, primarily related to healthy lifestyle practices, the potential significance of symptoms that they might have and whom they should consult for their medical evaluation.  I am also compelled to intervene in medical emergencies that I might come across.

But my most urgent advice to the general public is to trust their physician for medical prevention and treatment recommendations, not an untrained, conspiracy-minded, political hack who is running our Department of Health & Human Services and derailing medical research.  His advice is both worthless and dangerous.  RFK Jr. and those who willingly placed him in office should be prosecuted for endangering the current and future health of the American public.  Let's hope he is also impeached once the coming Blue Wave restores the integrity of Congress. 

A Circuit of Mystery

Today, per our human calendar, we begin another revolution around Mother Sun.  On average, we can expect to make about 80 circuits during the course of our life, though, as we know, many die well before that period is achieved.

As we begin the year, its course is a mystery and some of us may not be around to witness its end.  We may encounter wonderful opportunities or an unexpected tragedy.  We may meet individuals who complicate our life or someone who enriches it.  We may fall in love or experience the onset of an enduring heartache.

Of course, it is how we deal with such gifts and challenges that determines the course of this year and those that may or may not follow.  Best wishes for a happy and rewarding 2026.

The Demise of College Sports

As the Bowl Games get underway and the College Football Championship unfolds, one suspects that major college sports are threatened by the infusion of big money.  The advent of the portal and the attraction of superstars with huge payouts as they chase national recognition and attempt to improve their draft prospects have eliminated their devotion to any given university.

As a result, fans root for a different mix of players each year and pay more tuition to fund sports facilities that both meet the demands of the major conferences and appeal to the roving superstars.  Of course, many of the players only attend the university for a year or two, entering the professional draft as soon as possible.

It seems more appropriate for these professional prospects to forego college and enter a minor league in which they can demonstrate their skills and draw the attention of scouts.  Universities may resent the loss of prestige and money but can then focus on offering an affordable education to those who truly want it.

Birds, Humans & Winter

It is in winter that we humans tend to admire, pity and envy birds the most.  Unlike mammals, ensconced in fur and often able to escape to a relatively warm burrow, birds endure winter weather in the open, protected by nothing more than their feathers and dense thickets.  No doubt, seed and suet purchases by empathetic humans peak in response.

Then again, we admire those species that stay for the winter, knowing that they could easily depart for warmer climes.  Indeed, we are especially fond of those northern species that favor cold weather, instinctively migrating to our region for the winter months.  But we also envy those birds that utilize their mobility to head to warm environments, never to experience the ice, snow and frigid winds of a Temperate Zone winter.  

Our response to birds that winter in our home region likely corresponds to our personal tolerance of and fondness for the season.

Northeast Boone County

Though we have lived (at least part time) in Columbia, Missouri, for almost 30 years, we had not visited the northeast corner of Boone County until today.  Noting on maps that ranches and farmlands cover most of that region and needing to run our VW Beetle once again, my wife and I decided to finally explore that territory and drove north on route Z from the eastern edge of Columbia.

Of course, I also hoped to encounter flocks of migrant geese and wintering trumpeter swans in that area, knowing that they often settle in fields of crop stubble to feed.  The latter birds, nearly extirpated from the Lower 48 by the 1930s have been successfully reintroduced across the Midwest; though they do not migrate, relatively small flocks of trumpeters do move about the region during the colder months (see Midwest Trumpeters).

Though we enjoyed the drive and the rural scenery, we did not encounter migrant geese or trumpeter swans; Canada geese, red-tailed hawks, kestrels and, of course, large flocks of blackbirds were observed.  Most of all, it was a pleasure to finally explore the northeast corner of our home county;  I will definitely return to witness it's seasonal changes.   

A Snow Goose!

Following two months of failed attempts to locate and observe migrant geese (snow geese and/or greater white-fronted geese) this autumn, including two crossings of the Great Plains, I set out for the farmlands east of Columbia once again, hoping that a flock or two might have settled in the many fields of crop stubble.  But, before I drove more than two miles from our house, I encountered a lone snow goose, flying westward above one of the busiest intersections in Columbia.

Far from the pristine, pastoral experience that I have been seeking, it was nevertheless a rewarding moment during this frustrating migration season.  Though I had theoretically achieved my goal, I pressed on to the farmlands, spending an hour zig-zagging across the scenic, rural landscape.  Alas, no additional migrant geese were observed.

Hopefully, this morning's traveler won't prove to be the only snow goose that I observe this season.  On the other hand, he/she has flown all the way from the Arctic to make an appearance in my home town.  I am (and should be) grateful.

Addendum (12/26/25): A flock of 120 snow geese flew over our neighborhood early this afternoon, heading southwest! 

California's Wet Christmas

As the latest Pacific storm spins off the coast of Northern California, a flow of moisture is moving onshore from San Diego to the Pacific Northwest.  Having already endured several storms, the soil west of the mountain ranges is already saturated and the risk of flash-flooding and mudslides is high, especially in the burn areas.

Once again, the Sierra snowpack will be augmented, a welcome development for the regional water supply but a potential source of river flooding in the spring.

Aggravating this stagnant weather pattern is a dome of high pressure that is producing unseasonably warm weather across most of the U.S.  Here in central Missouri, we reached a high of 67 degrees F today and expect spring-like conditions for another three days.  Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the holiday!

Birding Beneath the Fog

Low clouds and light fog enveloped Columbia throughout this morning and into the early afternoon.  As I headed down to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, I was thus concerned that the fog would thicken and my viewing would be impaired as I dropped onto the Missouri River floodplain.  Fortunately, the lower fog line was above the refuge elevation and my birding efforts were unaffected.

Recent mild temperatures had cleared most of the ice and waterfowl species were easy to identify in the filtered light.  Mallards and American coot remained the dominant species, joined by northern shovelers and ring-necked ducks. A pair of adult bald eagles perched in their nest tree while a red-tailed hawk, a red-shouldered hawk and a northern harrier hunted on the grasslands.  Migrant geese have yet to arrive in any significant numbers.

In concert with the recovering wetlands and the regular influx of waterfowl, human hunters had returned, their pickups, camouflaged canoes and blinds spaced across the floodplain.  The refuge is now totally back to "normal."

The Winter Solstice

This morning, at 9:03 AM Central Time, the winter solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.  As a result, this will be the shortest day of the year and, from now until the summer solstice in late June, the day length will gradually increase.

Since almost all life on Earth is dependent on light and heat from the sun, this is the beginning of nature's year across our Hemisphere.  Within a few weeks, we will notice the lengthening sunlight but the low sun angle will negate significant solar heating for a couple of months; during that time, heat waves will develop only when atmospheric conditions allow the movement of air from south to north (or from high to low elevations along mountain ranges).

All of this has nothing to do with the sun itself.  Rather, it reflects the fact that our planet rotates on a tilted axis that causes each Hemisphere to lean toward the sun during the months surrounding its summer solstice and away from the sun during the months surrounding its winter solstice.  Of course, global warming will increase average temperatures during all phases of this annual cycle.