Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Jupiter Visits Venus

This week, bright Venus and less-bright Jupiter appear to be in close proximity.  They are best observed just after sunset in the western sky and will look closest together on Wednesday evening.

No need to worry that they will collide!  The current illusion, scientifically known as a conjunction, is purely a function of our vantage point on Earth.  The two planets are actually millions of miles apart (an average of 416 million miles in the course of a year) but appear close at this point due to their current orbital positions.

It is a spectacular sight indeed but a reminder that man's interpretation of the natural world has evolved in concert with the advancement of science.  One can easily imagine that such a conjunction was an alarming event early in human history.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Elk Country Sprawl

Needing to run my pickup, which had been idle for the past six weeks, I decided to make a loop south of Metro Denver, crossing the pine-studded ridge between Denver and Castle Rock en route.  To my dismay, I found that much of that scenic ridge has fallen victim to suburban sprawl.

Once a beautiful remnant of the foothill ecosystem that attracts wintering herds of elk, a sizable portion of the ridge has been cleared, making room for closely packed homes, condos and apartments.  The "watch for elk" signs are still there but I suspect those majestic herbivores will find more suitable habitat (while it lasts).

Decades ago, we used to joke that Denver, Castle Rock and Colorado Springs would eventually be one continuous Metroplex.  Despite the challenges imposed by global warming and water scarcity, that forecast is becoming a reality.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Driving through My Teens

As I continued westward across the snowy Plains under bright sunshine and a deep blue sky, I heard on Sirius Radio that its Sixties Gold station was about to play the Top 50 Soul and Motown songs of that decade, in honor of Black History Month.  Naturally, I tuned in and was soon back in my teens.

A music person, I enjoy listening to a wide variety of genres but have noticed that Motown hits induce dance fever more than most.  So, for the next two hours, I tried to indulge that response, a difficult task while driving a VW Beetle on the Interstate.

On a more serious note,  the show reminded listeners that, even during the tumultuous decade of the Sixties, black songwriters, producers and performers dominated the American music scene (at least until the British Invasion took hold).

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Escaping the Storm

The latest Pacific storm, lashing Southern California with high winds, heavy rain and mountain snow, is expected to move across the Four Corners region tonight and then track northeastward across the Great Plains.  Strong thunderstorms are forecast to develop from Kansas to northern Texas by late tomorrow afternoon.

Since I am spending the night in Hays, Kansas, on my way to our Littleton, Colorado, farm, I intend to get out of town early in the morning.  Indeed, warm, humid air is already streaming northward across the Plains, pushing afternoon highs into the mid 50s F.  Even warmer air will arrive tomorrow, fueling thunderstorms ahead of the cold front.

As with the last storm system, a northerly track will bring snow and ice to the Northern Plains and Great Lakes Region.  The remainder of my journey to Denver should be uneventful but I won't wait around for the thunderstorms to bloom.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Sound of Spring

Here in the Heartland, thunderstorms may occur in any season but they are far more common during the warmer months of the year.  This morning, they are rumbling across Central Missouri, just the latest sign that spring is gaining traction.

As the latest winter storm drops heavy snow and ice across the Northern Plains and Great Lakes Region, we remain in the system's "warm sector" where Gulf moisture is streaming northward ahead of the cold front.  This heat and humidity creates instability and the front produces lift, igniting the thunderstorms.

So it's sounding like spring here this morning and the heavy rain is more than welcome.  Flooded fields will attract migrant waterfowl and shorebirds and the swollen streams will alleviate low water levels in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.  No doubt, winter will strike back over the coming weeks but the seasonal transition is underway. 

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Thoughts on Competitive Swimming

When I was about ten years old, my parents joined a private swim club and encouraged me and my siblings to participate in competitive swimming or diving.  For this, I have been eternally grateful.

Joining the swim team, which turned out to be a year-round activity at some level, I continued my commitment to the sport through high school.  An excellent choice for both aerobic and muscular conditioning, it also, like most sports, stimulated a competitive drive that has served me well over the years.  Yet, unlike many sports, the risk of injury was minimal; the benefits far exceeded any negative effects..

Physical activity in childhood helps to prevent obesity and sets the stage for an attention to fitness throughout our lives; physical conditioning may prevent certain diseases but also improves our prognosis when illness does occur.  I thank my parents for their encouragement and I strongly recommend that others introduce their children or grandchildren to competitive swimming.  Whether they become Olympians or not, it will be a gift that endures.

Monday, February 20, 2023

A Mourning Cloak in Winter

Yesterday afternoon, while hiking atop a ridge south of Columbia, my wife and I enjoyed both the mild, sunny weather and broad vistas through the leafless forest.  But the highlight of our walk was the sighting of a mourning cloak butterfly.

Common throughout Missouri, mourning cloaks winter as adults, sheltering in tree cavities or beneath loose bark; on warm, sunny winter days, they often emerge to scour the woodland.  These Northern Hemisphere butterflies may live up to 12 months but produce only two generations each year.  Eggs are laid on the terminal twigs of host trees (elms, poplars, hackberry, willows) and the caterpillars (which undergo several molts) feed on the leaves of those trees.  Adult mourning cloaks feast primarily on tree sap though they may sip nectar from woodland flowers as well.

In all my years of wandering through winter forests, this may be the first time I have encountered a butterfly in February.  Just the latest reminder that nature's diversity is under appreciated, even by those of us who spend a great deal of time tramping through her landscapes.    

Sunday, February 19, 2023

The Rise of Individualism

During my youth, I was an avid fan of the Cincinnati Reds, known for a period as The Big Red Machine.  Since those days, professional teams have become less cohesive as individual athletes change clubs on a regular basis.  As a result, many of us are not inclined to remain devoted fans.

Now, the NCAA has instituted the transfer portal, easing the ability of college athletes to move between schools.  While the athletes are looking out for themselves (i.e. their potential to be drafted by professional teams), college fans end up rooting for a new squad each season.  Of course, many superstars leave for the pro leagues after a year or two anyway.

This focus on the individual in sports reflects the same phenomenon in business and politics.  CEOs change companies every few years and politicians change parties (or even States) when it suits their personal goals.  Many individuals work for a series of employers over the years, seeking better pay and/or work conditions.  We have gradually become a society of free agents, with no incentive to compromise and with little interest in the welfare of others.  For many of us, this is a worrisome trend, one that will hamper our efforts to solve national and global problems.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Eagle Bluffs Awakens

Following a prolonged hunting season and a recent bout of frigid weather, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain, is more vibrant than I have seen it since mid autumn.

On this sunny but chilly morning, waterfowl numbers had increased significantly, dominated by Canada geese, mallards, gadwall and northern shovelers; smaller flocks of green-winged teal and northern pintails were also observed.  American white pelicans, though absent this morning, have been stopping by on a regular basis and large flocks of snow and greater white-fronted geese have been seen at the refuge over the past few weeks.  Great blue herons are slowly returning and the resident bald eagles should begin nesting any day now.

This initial awakening will intensify over the coming weeks and months as winter loses its grip on the Heartland and as migrant waterfowl, pelicans, gulls, terns, cormorants, waders and shorebirds heed their instinctual drive to travel north.  Peak activity generally occurs from mid March through April but migrants will pass through the Missouri Valley as late as mid May.

Friday, February 17, 2023

Humans & Artificial Intelligence

With the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), one can anticipate many benefits and many risks for human society.  Most of the benefits will relate to technologic efficiencies while the risks will surely center around human education, job security, mental health and relationships.

A step beyond the challenges imposed by the internet and social media (including misinformation, media addiction, bullying and fraud, to name a few), AI will pose an even greater threat to our personal identity and mental health.  One can easily imagine the tendency of some individuals to develop "relationships" with imaginary cyber-friends, a theme that has been explored in some movies.

Unless humans build in safety controls (a major failure in the history of social media) the risks of AI will likely outweigh the benefits.  As with addiction to cell phones, streaming services, computers and virtual reality devices, protection from AI's ill effects will require limited exposure, enforced by parents, teachers, managers and others.  My only personal contribution is to recommend more time in nature's realm, away from the various technologies that strive to control our lives.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Too Much Love

On this annual celebration of love, one must admit that the word is overused.  Many popular songs and religious teachings encourage us to love one another; but is this emotionally possible?  Perhaps the message should focus on kindness, empathy and generosity.

We may surely love family members and close friends.  We may even love our pets.  Romantic love is generally limited to a few persons in our life (at most) though some men claim to have "loved" dozens, if not hundreds, of women.

Finally, we all tend to overuse the word in more benign ways; we love pizza, horses, sunsets etc.  But the overall effect is to diminish the importance of true love in our life and in society as a whole. 

Monday, February 13, 2023

Flyover at Mid-Day

No, these were not unidentified balloons or mysterious objects that I observed over Perry Phillips Lake.  They were far more interesting and inspiring (though I did report them.....on eBird).

They were 870 snow geese in four separate flocks, all passing overhead at high altitude within a twenty minute period.  Had I not heard their distinctive calls, I might not have even noticed them.  As it turned out, I was fortunate to witness the hardy travelers, their lines shimmering against the deep blue sky as they moved off to the NNW; in fact, several thousand have been observed in the Columbia region over the past two days.

Of course, these early spring migrants are headed for their Arctic breeding grounds and will likely make a few more rest stops along the way.  I certainly appreciated their decision to fly over Central Missouri on this mild, sunny afternoon. 

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Flashback Post XXXVIII

It is Super Bowl Sunday, The American Holiday, but I will not be watching the game for reasons discussed in previous posts (see: Fall without Football).  However, I have learned that, for the first time, both Super Bowl teams will be led by black quarterbacks.  That fact encouraged me to republish a post from December of 2015.

See: Black Quarterbacks 

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Tishomingo State Park

On our last morning in Mississippi, we visited Tishomingo State Park (named for the Chief of the Chickasaw Nation) in the northeast corner of the State.  Covering more than 1500 acres in the Bear Creek Valley (a tributary of the Tennessee River), the Park is renowned for its spectacular cliffs and slump blocks of Carboniferous sandstone and limestone.

Several trails provide access to the rocky terrain, the most popular of which begins at a swinging bridge that crosses Bear Creek.  This loop hike runs along and atop the scenic cliffs and returns to the bridge along the banks of the stream.  Recessed caves and a natural spring are also encountered in the gorge.

In a State known best for its lowlands and beaches, Tishomingo State Park, lying in the foothills of the Southern Appalachians, offers rugged topography more typical of the mountains to its north and east.  Finally, this refuge lies along the Natchez Trace Parkway, a route of historic significance across the Deep South.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR

Named for a local and national conservationist, the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge stretches across the Noxubee River Valley in east-central Mississippi.  Its informative Visitor Center, fine trail network and multiple boardwalks make it seem more like a State Park than a NWR.

The damming of Oktoc and Loakfoma Creeks has created two sizable lakes, bordered by forest and baldcypress swamps.  A restored prairie augments the natural diversity and offers a spectacular view of the lakes.  Bald eagles, ospreys, migrant waterfowl, cormorants, barred owls, red-cockaded woodpeckers and a wide variety of waders highlight the avian population; alligators, river otters, bobcats, fox, beaver, white-tailed deer and a host of snakes and turtles may also be encountered.

Mild weather and bright sunshine made our visit especially enjoyable.  It was also rewarding to learn that this large, attractive refuge honors a man who dedicated his life to protecting natural ecosystems. 

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Crosby Arboretum

Since severe weather was forecast for the afternoon, we visited Crosby Arboretum, in Picayune, Mississippi, yesterday morning.  Established in 1978, the arboretum is an extension of Mississippi State University.

Accessed by sand/gravel trails and rustic wooden bridges, this large, urban refuge harbors an excellent diversity of ecosystems; ponds, marshes, bogs, savannas and a variety of forests greet the visitor.  Most importantly, signs identify many of the species and explain their role in nature's cycle of life.  As one might expect, the varied habitat attracts a pleasing mix of wildlife as well.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and highly recommend the Crosby Arboretum to anyone visiting the area.  On this mild, cloudy morning in February, we had the beautiful preserve to ourselves. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Flashback Post XXXVII

This week's tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria brought to mind a post that I wrote in October of 2011. Understanding the reason for the catastrophe does not diminish the importance of a swift International response.

See: Turkey & Earthquakes 

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Along the Gulf Coast

On this cool, cloudy, misty morning, we started the day by taking a walk along Long Beach, west of Gulf Port, Mississippi.  Gulls, black skimmers and shorebirds were abundant, joined by modest numbers of brown pelicans and double-crested cormorants.

Our next stop was at the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Coastal Resources Center, just west of the Alabama line.  The refuge has three relatively short trails, including one that winds across a wet pine savanna, an ecosystem that covered most of the Gulf Coastal Plain before European settlers arrived.  The Center, free to the public, houses displays that illustrate the varied ecosystems of the northern Gulf Coast.  

Our final stop was at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs.  While the refuge title is somewhat misleading (there are no beaches), the visitor center offered an interesting introduction to the wildlife and habitats of the barrier islands and coastal marshes.  A few short hikes also provided scenic views of those landscapes.  Tomorrow, we will travel westward along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and likely visit a Coastal Plain refuge or two.

Monday, February 6, 2023

Crossing the Delta

Leaving Grenada, Mississippi, this morning, we drove west toward the full moon and soon dropped onto the Mississippi River Delta.  A mosaic of agricultural fields, bayous, oxbow lakes, catfish ponds, cypress swamps and islands of bottomland forest, this flat landscape was alive with waterfowl, wetland birds and grassland species.

Our first stop was at the Tallahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, most of which was closed due to flooding; fortunately, the boardwalk trail and observation tower offered access to a scenic cypress swamp.  An even better boardwalk trail was at Sky Lake, to the southwest, a remnant channel of the Mississippi River; almost a third of a mile in length, the boardwalk took us past giant baldcypress trees, some of which are 1000 years old.  Climbing from the Delta at Yazoo City, we continued southward to Flora where the Mississippi Petrified Forest is located; though it is privately owned and an entrance fee is charged, the trail loop was both pleasant and educational, taking visitors through a creek valley in which erosion has uncovered the petrified wood.

From that interesting preserve, we drove southeastward across the wooded hills of central Mississippi and will spend the next few nights on the Gulf Coast, just west of Gulfport.  We plan to explore a number of coastal nature preserves in the coming days.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Heading to Mississippi

Though I am more enamored with mountainous terrain than lowlands, we will be exploring the State of Mississippi over the next week.  We have traveled through the State on occasion but have not visited its refuges and parks (with the exception of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR).

While outsiders may not associate Mississippi with nature preserves, it has at least 17 National Wildlife Refuges by my count; that is far more than most States, including some large Western States that are renowned for their tracts of wilderness.  Over the next week, we hope to visit a few of them in addition to some wildlife management areas and State Parks.

In light of the recent outbreaks of severe weather across the Deep South, our travel within the State will be more spontaneous than planned.  We'll go where we can when it is safe to proceed.  Details to follow. 

Saturday, February 4, 2023

The Balloon Fiasco

Yesterday afternoon, many of us in Columbia, Missouri, were treated to a view of China's "spy balloon" as it drifted eastward across a clear blue sky.  For all the political turmoil that it has unleashed, the white orb offered a pleasing and, some might say, peaceful sight.

In this era of high-tech surveillance, one wonders why China would use such an easily observed tool to gather information on the U.S.; of course, Chinese officials claim that it is merely a weather balloon that got caught up in the jet stream and have apologized for entering our air space.

As one might expect, reaction to the balloon is closely tied to one's political views.  A number of Conservatives demanded that it be "shot down" despite the potential risk to those on the ground.  The Administration has assured Americans that they are monitoring the balloon's path but have not yet indicated what, if anything, will be done.  In the meantime, they have called off a meeting with the President of China; apparently, diplomacy cannot occur while we are under threat from a beautiful balloon. 

Friday, February 3, 2023

A Dome of Patience

Just as we entered February and began to witness signs of spring, another dome of Arctic air has dropped into the Midwest.  It was 10 degrees F this morning in Columbia, Missouri, and, despite the brilliant sunshine, the air is not much warmer at mid-day.

Fortunately, this polar invasion will be brief and a warm front will push up for the Southwest in the coming days.  Such is the historic pattern through mid March as winter's retreat is haphazard at best.  An unsettled jet stream, typical of spring, ushers in the alternating periods of cold and warm air.

It will be interesting to see how climate change will affect this pattern.  From what we have seen to date, we should probably expect more potent atmospheric gyrations, triggering heavy spring snow, strong Nor'Easters, tragic ice storms and severe, tornadic thunderstorms.  For now, we'll just wait out the Arctic incursion, enjoying the bright sunshine and crystal-clear air; spring will take hold soon enough. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Winter into Spring

Stopping by Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on this first day of February, I found that more than 80% of the surface water was frozen over.  A couple dozen gadwall and two mallards were the only waterfowl that I encountered.

Making up for their absence, a good variety of raptors patrolled the floodplain, including three bald eagles, four red-tailed hawks, two northern harriers and a lone red-shouldered hawk.  As is usually the case, massive flocks of red-winged blackbirds moved about the refuge, joined by small flocks of meadowlarks, mourning doves, crows, starlings and horned larks.

Despite this wintry scene, I consider February to be the first month of spring.  Migrant geese and American white pelicans will increase through the month and the first bulb plants (hyacinths and crocuses)  push through the chilly soil before March arrives.  Great horned owls are nesting, flickers will be drumming by mid month and bird song intensifies with the lengthening daylight.  Happy Spring!