Setback at Eagle Bluffs

Six weeks after our last visit, a friend and I drove through Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning.  The pristine wetland ecosystem that we had left behind was now crawling with construction equipment and farm tractors.  Water was primarily limited to the central channel and crops covered most of the fields.

Disappointed by the turn of events, we completed our usual loop drive and saw a fair variety of birds.  Great egrets, all huddled in one shallow pond, were most abundant while a trio of young scissor-tailed flycatchers proved to be the highlight.  Other than two turkey vultures, no raptors were observed.  In total, 19 avian species were encountered during our 90 minute visit.

How odd that a brief recovery was permitted to occur before this floodplain wetland was all but closed down once again.  No doubt, there are reasons related to wastewater management but this second round of devastation was difficult to accept. 

Back to Phillips Lake

After a prolonged absence, my wife and I returned to Perry Phillips Lake early this morning.  While "development" continues along the Park's rim, it was a pleasant visit, having completed our loop walk before heat became a factor.

Annual cicadas provided a background chorus while pockets of ironweed, trumpet vine and bright red wild plums added color to the verdant landscape.  Following recent heavy rains, the lake was full for the first time this year though swallows and a lone great blue heron were the only birds to take advantage of its bounty.  Birdlife was otherwise limited to common summer and permanent residents and, as is usually the case there, northern mockingbirds were most conspicuous.

While I have previously decried the development along the edge of the Park, this former farm lake and its adjacent woodlands, fields and wetlands continue to attract an interesting mix of wildlife.  We'll keep visiting whenever we're in Columbia.

Trump's Environmental Ignorance

As almost 900 wildfires rage across the vast northern forests of Canada, Pacific storm systems direct some of the smoke into the Upper Midwest and Northeastern U.S.  Of course, this angers Our Dear Leader and it is one of the reasons that he threatens to impose a 50% tariff on our neighbor.  In his opinion, the Canadian government should be doing more to control the wildfires.

Our warming climate is primarily responsible for this widespread disaster, reducing snowfall and rain across the Great Northwoods.  Unfortunately, Trump and his Cabinet do not accept the "hoax" of climate change, choosing to cut emissions regulations, withdraw funds from green energy projects and encourage the rebirth of coal-fueled power plants.

Of all his disastrous policies imposed upon our country, Trump's disdain for environmentalism may have the greatest long-term effect.  Hopefully, the private sector will resist this folly and ignore his repeal of established environmental laws.  After all, they know by now that a Blue Wave is coming in November. 

Mother & Destroyer

The Sea is the mother of all life on Earth, which first evolved in her realm about 3.6 billion years ago.  It would not be until 450 million years ago that some species became terrestrial but a fabulous diversity of life still inhabits Mother Sea, much of which has yet to be discovered by humans.

Nourishing and sculpting terrestrial ecosystems with her weather systems, she also destroys habitats and human developments with coastal hurricanes, severe inland storms and flooding rains.  Indeed, as our climate warms, these destructive events will intensify.

Furthermore, as her component oceans open and close, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanism alter terrestrial landscapes and destroy regional life; the recent earthquakes in Venezuela demonstrate a risk that stretches across the globe.  The Sea, an essential component of Life on Earth is both generous and destructive; we could not live without her but often succumb to her power.  

Trump kills the Endangered Species Act

In their most outrageous attack on our natural environment to date, Trump's Departments of Commerce and The Interior plan to open protected habitat to drilling and mining companies.  In their words, the Endangered Species Act, written into law more than 50 years ago, is too restrictive.

Foregoing any scientific studies to support their convictions, these pro-business, anti-conservation politicians would surely destroy our National Wildlife Refuge system if given the chance.  Climate change deniers and human-centric zealots, they have no appreciation for our reliance on the health of natural ecosystems.

Once again, Trump's enablers in Congress are too afraid to intervene.  The destruction of our planet and its long term impacts on future generations (including their own children and grandchildren) does not appear to warrant any opposition.  Vote Democratic in November! 

The Drought and Waders

Non-birders may be surprised to learn that a wide variety of herons, ibis and egrets summer in or visit the Front Range urban corridor.  Indeed, great blue herons and black-crowned night herons are common permanent residents while great egrets, snowy egrets, white-faced ibis and cattle egrets are common summer residents and migrants.  Both American and least bitterns are uncommon summer residents and a host of waders are rare summer visitors; the latter include tricolored herons, yellow-crowned night herons and white ibis.

Most of these waders favor shallow mudflats and marshlands along the border of ponds, lakes and rivers and are thus not obvious to those who visit wetland habitats.  This summer, however, the drought has severely lowered the water level in lakes and rivers, drawing herons and egrets out into the open in search of fish and aquatic invertebrates.

As a result, I have encountered far more waders in Littleton than I have seen in past years.  Just this morning, I saw ten snowy egrets, five black-crowned night herons and a few great blue herons along a short stretch of the South Platte River.  Of course, such rewards do not make up for a crippling drought but its effects are worth noting. 

Prairie Dog Ghettos

During my childhood in Cincinnati, I would often watch nature shows that took the viewer to pristine ecosystems across the country and around the globe.  As I recall, one of these destinations was the vast, shortgrass prairie of the Western U.S., inhabited by bison, pronghorn, rattlesnakes, burrowing owls and, of course, prairie dogs.

Now, more than 60 years later, most of that prairie has succumbed to agriculture and urban sprawl and its wild residents have been domesticated or forced to survive on shrinking plots of grassland.  An up-close reminder of this fact is evident in Metro Denver where I frequently pass small colonies of prairie dogs occupying tiny tracts of roadside habitat, including patches of grass and dirt at some intersections.  One wonders how they survive; indeed, some risk a quick and unnatural death as they dart across busy streets.

While I understand the challenges of coexisting with a wide variety of wildlife, these prairie dog ghettos are disturbing sights, highlighting our unending and reckless "development" of the planet. 

Waders in the Shallows

Returning to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, a friend and I found that the water levels have continued to fall and that vast shallows spread out from the central channel and along the primary drainages of the refuge.  Not surprisingly, these conditions attracted a large number of waders (61 great blue herons and 37 great egrets), perhaps the most I have ever observed at this floodplain preserve.

As summer sets in, waterfowl were limited to the resident Canada geese and a lone, male wood duck.  Killdeer were the only "shorebirds" and turkey vultures were the sole raptors.  Dickcissels, the most abundant songbirds, called from the drier grasslands while many summer residents, hidden in the foliage, were identified by their songs; these included yellow-breasted chats, yellow warblers and common yellowthroats.  More conspicuous were indigo buntings, fish crows and mixed flocks of swallows.  A single cormorant, finding the water too shallow for diving, flew across the refuge, heading for deeper fishing grounds.

Having recovered from a prolonged drought, this wetland refuge must now rely on periods of heavy rain to sustain its rich ecosystem.  Of course, human visitors, ourselves included, hope that summer storms regularly douse the floodplain. 

Konza Prairie Biological Station

Though I have driven past it hundreds of times, I never looked into the history and management of the Konza Prairie Biological Station in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas until today.  Owned by Kansas State University and the Nature Conservancy, this 3487 hectare reserve stretches across rolling tallgrass prairie, just north of Interstate 70.  Indeed, it protects the largest remnant of unplowed tallgrass prairie in North America.

Established in 1971 and significantly enlarged by the addition of the Dewey Ranch in the late Seventies, the Station is named for the Kaw or Kanza People, who occupied the region before they were forced out during the mid-late 19th Century.  The Konza Prairie is managed by the KSU Division of Biology with the primary goals of conservation, education and research; the latter includes ecologic, hydrologic and geologic studies, including the effects of periodic burning and ungulate grazing (cattle, bison or none).

The Station Headquarters is off McDowell Creek Road (north of I-70), where a trail provides access to the prairie ecosystem.  Information for this post was obtained from the Station's website; your financial support for their research is encouraged. 

Our Mystery Buckeye

Last summer, we found a small buckeye tree growing in one of our flower beds.  How it got there was uncertain but we assumed its seed had arrived in the feces of a deer and was then buried by a squirrel.  This spring, we learned more about the tree.

Early this month, red flowers appeared (photo).  Since our native buckeye species flower in the summer, this suggested the tree is a Eurasian import, known as a horsechestnut.  Furthermore, its opposite, palmately compound leaves have seven leaflets, typical of horsechestnuts; American buckeyes have five leaflets.  Finally, the red, upright flower clusters, indicate it is likely a red horsechestnut, a hybrid of a common horsechestnut and a red buckeye.

Whatever its exact classification may be, it is an attractive tree and a welcome addition to our flora.  Its presence demonstrates the value of establishing wild borders, allowing nature to determine their resident plants and animals.  Less expense and work for us and more natural diversity on the property.   

Avian Explosion at Eagle Bluffs

Now that this fabulous floodplain refuge has returned to its former glory and we are in the midst of spring, Eagle Bluffs was alive with birds this morning.  Indeed, on my two hour visit, I encountered 43 species, many of them summer residents.

Swallows (all five species), blue-winged teal, dickcissels and indigo buntings were most abundant.  Highlights included a pileated woodpecker,  American avocets, white-faced ibis and soras; the latter, usually best observed on cloudy, rainy days, were especially vocal and visible on this bright, May morning.  Eastern kingbirds and common yellowthroats were more numerous than I had expected and our common waders, great egrets and great blue herons, are gradually regaining their past summer populations.  Ironically, an immature bald eagle was the only raptor that I saw.

Though I had hoped to encounter black terns, a personal favorite, it is a bit early for those late spring migrants.  Nevertheless, my overall experience was more than rewarding and I'll continue regular visits whenever I'm in Columbia. 

The Bear Creek Greenbelt

Bear Creek rises on the east face of Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans) and flows downward through alpine tundra, forests and meadows.  Below Evergreen, Colorado, it slices through its tortuous canyon in the foothills before rumbling onto the Piedmont, eventually joining the South Platte River.

Before the construction of the Bear Creek Lake Dam (1977-1982) to control flooding, Bear Creek, having also received significant flow from Turkey Creek, to its south, had produced a broad floodplain of wetlands, meadows and cottonwood groves through the west side of Metro Denver.  Once its flow was greatly diminished by the dam, that floodplain began to dry out and a large portion of it is now protected as a Greenbelt for walking, biking and nature study.

Of course, this flood-control project has had a significant impact on the floodplain itself, where the massive cottonwoods are gradually dying off and the wetlands have all but disappeared.  Human development and recreation have been the winners.  

Getting Personal on Earth Day

On this annual Earth Day, many of us will attend gatherings, speeches, demonstrations or fairs to show our support for the welfare of our home planet; that is not enough.  Our commitment to the health of natural ecosystems must be personal.

We must ask ourselves if our recycling efforts are maximized, if we make every effort to eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides, if we limit artificial irrigation and if we have naturalized our property to avoid the use of fertilizer and to provide natural nutrition sources for wildlife. 

Just as importantly, do we contribute to conservation organizations (such as those in the right column of this blog) that have the financial, legal and political clout to combat the anti-environmental fervor of the Trump Administration?  Will we support candidates who openly acknowledge the threat of climate change and who offer policies to combat pollution, excessive consumption and the degradation of natural habitat?  That is the very least we can do for Mother Earth. 

Majestic View Park

On this bright April morning, my wife and I visited Majestic View Park, in Arvada, Colorado.  Off 72nd Ave., between Wadsworth and Kipling, the 80-acre park offers a broad view of the Mt. Blue Sky massif and the adjacent Front Range Foothills.

Two miles of paved and earthen trails wind through the Park, which harbors open grasslands, riparian woodlands, a pond and a creek-side marsh (now undergoing restoration).  Red-winged blackbirds and blue jays were the most conspicuous residents this morning though we also saw a pied-billed grebe and a large garter snake on our walk.

Majestic View Park also has a Nature Center that offers educational programs throughout the year.  Though the Park is rather small, its scenery, its variety of natural habitats and its accessibility make it worth a visit for Metro Denver residents and visitors. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 

Like the Good Old Refuge

When a friend and I arrived at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area early this morning, we were reminded of the fabulous wetland refuge that we knew before the recent man-induced drought.  Open water was extensive and hundreds of ducks fed in the shallows or dove in the deeper pools.

Northern shovelers dominated the waterfowl though most expected species were observed; the first blue-winged teal of the season were among them.  A pair of bald eagles were at their nest and American coot nodded their way across the central channel.  On the other hand, we did not encounter any great blue herons or hawks and few songbirds were seen.

Nevertheless, it was a pleasant and reassuring visit.  Migrant geese and American white pelicans have been reported at the refuge over the past weeks and the spring migration season is just beginning to unfold.  We'll be back on a regular basis to witness the annual spectacle and to immerse ourselves in this restored wetland ecosystem,