Calm Later On The Storms

Following a calendar week of hot, humid weather condition together with severe thunderstorms, relatively cool together with dry out air has invaded key Missouri.  Though flooding persists along the Missouri River together with other large streams, 1 tin at 1 time to a greater extent than fully appreciate the works together with creature of a Midwest spring.

Sitting on our deck this evening, I saw together with or heard at to the lowest degree xx aeroplane species, dominated past times squadrons of chimney swifts that zoomed across the clear blueish sky; joining them were turkey vultures, sailing overhead, together with an occasional mutual black hawk, identified past times their white wing patches together with distinctive calls.  Backyard visitors included ruby-throated hummingbirds, grayness catbirds, cedar waxwings together with a to the lowest degree flycatcher amid to a greater extent than mutual residents, all seemingly enjoying the cool recess equally much equally I was (at to the lowest degree until a Cooper's hawk appeared).

One place on our belongings has definitely benefited from the recent soupy weather condition together with heavy rains: the compost bin.  Fueled past times the oestrus together with humidity, uncountable invertebrates are at 1 time swarming over the yard together with kitchen waste, feasting on the found cloth together with creating a time to come render of nutritious compost.  The external atmosphere may convey operate out to a greater extent than appealing to humans only the tropical conditions inside that bin is ideal for those recyclers.

Crossing Tornado Alley

Heading dorsum to Colorado, I crossed Tornado Alley this forenoon in addition to afternoon, a wide swath of landscape from Texas to Nebraska in addition to Iowa that is specially susceptible to tornadic thunderstorms inwards throttle in addition to early on summer.

As i who has often driven across the Great Plains, I hereby offering a dyad of personal recommendations to beau travelers.  First of all, cross this share every bit early on inwards the twenty-four hr menses every bit possible since supercell thunderstorms (and the tornadoes that they spawn) virtually often prepare inwards belatedly afternoon or evening, fueled yesteryear daytime heating.  Secondly, melody into local radio stations to rest informed regarding unsafe storms; spell the terrain is relatively apartment in addition to many storms tin endure spotted at a distance, this is non ever the case, specially when heavy rains obscure your view.

Today, I managed to orbit Hays, Kansas, amongst no major problems, though I did skirt i severe thunderstorm simply W of Topeka.  After checking into a motel inwards Hays, however, a tornado alert was issued for this metropolis in addition to nosotros all gathered inwards the laundry room until the tempest passed simply to our east.  Meanwhile, tornadic thunderstorms convey begun to ignite all across eastern Kansas (not to cite an outbreak inwards Pennsylvania, stretching along the rim of a high pull per unit of measurement area dome that sits over the Southeastern U.S.).

Swallows To The Rescue

Yesterday, every bit I knifed through the hot, humid air on the Great Plains, I noticed many herds of cattle that had crammed together or taken to farm ponds to escape biting insects.  Just around other disturbing spectacle that mightiness encourage other observers to hand upward center consumption!

Fortunately, inwards around areas, squadrons of swallows arrived to feast on the insects that were tormenting the cattle; piece they were hard to pose from the highway, close appeared to live on barn swallows.  Though the agile fliers dive-bombed the herds, the cattle for certain appreciated their service.

Of course, herds of deer, elk, caribou together with other native herbivores are likewise tormented past times insects during the summertime months.  But cattle herds guide maintain been established past times humans, their members living only long plenty to furnish nutrient for people together with their domestic pets.  Their brief lives are far from idyllic! 

Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Of all those brown-olive-white flycatchers that migrate through the U.S., the olive-sided flycatcher is mayhap the easiest to identify.  Relatively large, amongst an over-sized head, long thick bill, brusk tail together with "vest-like" plume on his chest, this migrant prefers to hunt from a dead limb close the meridian of a tree; from that conspicuous perch, he flies out to snare a large insect together with and hence ordinarily returns to the same spot.

Breeding inwards coniferous forests across Alaska together with Canada together with southward through mount ranges of North America, close of these long-distance migrants wintertime inwards South America though to a greater extent than or less shorten their journey, staying inwards Central America.  Among the concluding migrant flycatchers to deed through the U.S.A. inwards spring, they are close frequently observed inwards belatedly May; evidently fond of their wintering grounds, close caput due south i time to a greater extent than yesteryear belatedly August.

Olive-sided flycatchers are to a greater extent than mutual inwards the Western U.S.A. (at to the lowest degree inwards my experience) together with I encountered 2 at South Platte Park this morning.  Seemingly certain of themselves, they are less skittish than their smaller cousins together with volition ordinarily pose at closed range, disturbed solely yesteryear a juicy insect that flies close their perch.

The Storms Of June

Following a catamenia of cool, rainy weather, temperatures are heating upwards along the Colorado Front Range together with and therefore is the severe weather.  Indeed, severe thunderstorms together with tornados by together with large pinnacle inward this part during the calendar month of June.

While belatedly afternoon thunderstorms are mutual from May to September, damaging hail together with air current coincide amongst rise mid-day temperatures together with a soundless unsettled jet stream.  Seemingly little thunderstorms, drifting eastward from the mountains, all of a abrupt explode into powerful monsters, ravaging all that lies beneath their path piece following areas, bathed inward sunshine, larn unscathed.

As I drove a friend to the airdrome this afternoon, a few showers obscured portions of the Front Range. By the fourth dimension I headed home, roughly 20 minutes later, nearly had dissipated; one, however, sitting over western Arapahoe County, had fed on their energy.  Characterized past times intense rain, high winds together with large hail, it was drifting eastward (per the radio warning) together with I changed my cast to avoid its wrath.  One would live on foolish to travail into that atmospheric maelstrom! 

The Calendar Month Without Migrants

Avid birders facial expression frontward to the jump together with autumn migration seasons, when seasonal residents together with migrants mingle alongside permanent residents, greatly increasing the multifariousness of avian species inwards whatever given area.  By June (in the Northern Hemisphere), jump migration is commonly consummate together with the "autumn migration" volition non laid about until July; i mightiness thence propose that June is the to the lowest degree interesting calendar month for birders, specially alongside reckon to unexpected sightings.

By mid July, shorebirds laid about to migrate southward together with volition expire on to produce together with so for several months.  Waterfowl, songbird together with closed to raptor migrations are underway yesteryear belatedly summer, continuing into Dec for sure species of geese.  Some mightiness combat that Jan is likewise devoid of migrants merely vertical together with irruptive migrations reach throughout the winter.  By February, geese, sandhill cranes, American white pelicans together with other select species laid about to caput northward together with the jump avian migration volition expire on through May.

That brings us dorsum to June, a fourth dimension when summertime residents choose settled inwards and, inwards many cases, already choose a brood to raise.  June tin for certain endure a pleasant calendar month to scour the fields, forests together with wetlands for additions to one's personal life listing merely migrants (except for a straggler or two) volition non probable grace the scene.

A Shower Of Larvae

Reading outdoors early on this afternoon, I had placed my chair inwards the shade of a large Siberian elm that overhangs our driveway.  Off to the west, a thunderstorm had begun to bird together with I hurried to complete a chapter earlier I was forced inside.

Just earlier my destination was realized, something struck the chair that sounded similar a drib of rain; several other impacts presently followed equally a breeze picked upwards from the approaching storm.  As it turned out, the "raindrops" were tiny, yellowish slugs, a fact that was made clear when i struck the book.  Looking approximately my chair, I flora dozens of the larvae on the asphalt, writhing almost inwards search of vegetation.  Before I was forced indoors yesteryear rain, a robin turned upwards to feast on the misfortunate invertebrates, efficiently picking them off the driveway.

I suspect the tiny victims were the larvae of elm-leaf beetles, known to favor Siberian together with Chinese elms together with to lay ii broods of eggs, i inwards belatedly saltation together with the other inwards belatedly summer.  After falling from or traveling downwardly the tree, the tiny, translucent larvae uncovering a rubber spot to pupate into the adult stage.  Of course, an asphalt driveway is non an ideal landing spot together with the robin certainly enjoyed the windfall. Since nosotros create non purpose insecticides on the farm, at that spot should hold upwards enough to a greater extent than larvae for our resident insectivores.

Matted Pilus Inwards The Brush Pile

Now that summertime has develop inward as well as the plane population on our farm has stabilized for the season, I am to a greater extent than inclined to roam the property, looking for odd insects as well as plants.  This morning, spell exploring our "wild corner," I came across a clump of matted pilus inward the brush pile.

Initially assuming it was the remnants of a mouse or pocket-sized cottontail, I used a stick to investigate farther but constitute no bones or other cloth to confirm my suspicion.  I hence concluded it was a type of fungus and, later about investigation, settled on a species of Phycomyces; these fungi hit long, hair-like sporangia which flame inward tiny spheres that incorporate the spores.  Feasting on (and recycling) a broad form of rotting organic matter, the fungal flower was probable triggered past times our recent heavy rains.

My identification may or may non last right but, inward to a greater extent than than threescore years of exploring natural ecosystems, it was the cause down fourth dimension I encountered such a fungus; only the latest confirmation that nature's multifariousness is endless, fifty-fifty for a life-long naturalist.

A Chilly Forenoon Inward June

Following a calendar week of hot, stormy weather, a mutual frigidity front end dipped across the Front Range overnight, bringing cool, cloudy conditions to the portion this morning.  Down along the South Platte, insectivores had 1 time over again gathered to feast on their prey to a higher house in addition to along the fast moving waters of that relatively warm stream.

Dominating the scene were hundreds of violet-green swallow, forced downwards from the foothills to bring together their rough-winged, barn in addition to cliff cousins; the latter choose been nesting beneath the Bowles Avenue distich since early on May.  Other insectivores along the river were Say's phoebes, cedar waxwings, American robins, red-winged blackbirds, Bullock's orioles, mutual yellowthroats in addition to xanthous warblers.  By this belatedly appointment inwards spring, mallards in addition to a few mutual mergansers were the alone waterfowl on the South Platte though double-crested cormorants choose drib dead increasingly common.

Once the intense Colorado Sun breaks through the overcast, afternoon temperatures volition rising to almost 60 (F) in addition to a steady recovery toward to a greater extent than seasonable conditions is forecast for the coming week.  On the positive side, the cool air should stabilize the atmosphere for a few days, temporarily suppressing the evolution of severe afternoon in addition to eve thunderstorms.

The Nature Of Menage Unit Of Measurement Reunions

Since I depart for my wife's household unit of measurement reunion inward northern Ohio today, I select been thinking most the nature of such events.  Of course, families are really express inward nature since, inward most species, the immature disperse early on inward life to preclude inbreeding; indeed, with few exceptions, unicellular organisms, invertebrates, fish, amphibians as well as most reptiles never fifty-fifty reckon their parents.

Families, equally nosotros know them, exclusively be inward sure as shooting birds as well as mammals as well as humans are with the few species to retain long-term familial relationships.  Throughout most of our history, a nomadic lifestyle broke upwardly extended families and, fifty-fifty today, a global economic scheme has encouraged (if non required) the spatial separation of household unit of measurement members.  One mightiness fighting that household unit of measurement reunions select driblet dead peculiarly of import inward modern human society.

On the other hand, whatever interpersonal tensions existed during childhood tend to persist, as well as reunions may reignite those emotions.  Then at that spot is the additional influence (positive or negative) that spouses as well as children select had on household unit of measurement dynamics as well as directly "bring to the table."  It is no wonder that household unit of measurement reunions select been provender for then many novels as well as movies (some dramatic, others comedic); I human face a niggling of both over the coming week.

Flooding As Well As Our Future

Driving dorsum from Northeast Ohio, where heavy rains had brought Sandy Lake, southeast of Kent, to a tape score too closed local roadways, nosotros passed through flooded terrain from key Ohio to eastern Missouri.  Every creek too river was bank-full or had spilled across its floodplain too pelting was notwithstanding falling inwards most areas; across the water-logged fields, crops were unplanted or good behind schedule.

Of course, extensive flooding inwards the Missouri, Arkansas too Mississippi Valleys has been inwards the tidings for months, including structural harm inwards towns too cities too disruption of agriculture too transportation inwards those massive watersheds.  Meanwhile, hurricane flavor is underway too the get-go tropical organisation of the twelvemonth brought torrential rains to the western Gulf Coast.  Even if they dodge tropical storms too hurricanes, coastal cities are threatened past times ascension sea levels, a work that volition solely worsen over the coming decades.

Mention global warming too most humans (assuming they bring the science) worry nigh drought too H2O shortages.  Those problems volition for certain hold upward severe inwards unopen to regions merely warmer air tin carry larger quantities of H2O from oceans too lakes, providing to a greater extent than fuel for thunderstorms, snowstorms, tropical storms too hurricanes.  Combined amongst coastal flooding from ascension seas, which is already displacing human settlements across the globe, excessive atmospheric precipitation may hold upward the principal threat unleashed past times climate change.

Back Inward Drier Country

After 10 days inwards the soggy Midwest, I am dorsum at our Littleton, Colorado, farm, enjoying drier air together with warm temperatures.  While the greenery hither reflects an unusually wet spring, nosotros are non dealing amongst flooded rivers together with soiled landscapes.

On the other hand, belatedly afternoon thunderstorms boot the bucket on to lash the region, disrupting air traffic together with posing the threat of damaging hail.  Indeed, equally I write this post, a severe thunderstorm over Denver International Airport is tardily drifting eastward, allowing arrivals together with departures to resume.  Other storms tower due east of the Front Range, creating an atmospheric wall that is forcing air traffic to hold upwardly routed good to the northward together with southward of our region.

But away from these brief together with widely scattered downpours, in that place is no humidity to suppress outdoor action together with sunny skies dominate inwards nearly areas.  Unlike the Midwest, nosotros are far from the feather of Gulf wet that tempest systems tap equally they motility across the country; inwards addition, the mount ranges to our due west "take out" atmospheric precipitation arriving from the Pacific.  Our semiarid climate may come upwardly amongst confine snow, June thunderstorms together with a belatedly summertime monsoon, simply I'll stimulate got the dry out air, cool nights together with abundant sunshine.

Insect Command On The Farm

As I create got mentioned inwards the past, nosotros produce non purpose insecticides on our Littleton, Colorado, farm.  However, nosotros produce host hundreds of assistants that popular off along the insect population inwards check, working for zero to a greater extent than than their meals.

Chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, woodpeckers, warblers, gnatcatchers, catbirds, identify wrens, western tanagers as well as Bullock's orioles glean insects from the trees as well as shrubs.  Flycatchers, Say's phoebes, cedar waxwings, tree as well as barn swallows, broad-tailed hummingbirds as well as western kingbirds snare them from mid air, joined past times piddling chocolate-brown bats as well as mutual nighthawks at dusk.  American robins, crows, starlings, grackles, flickers, blueish jays, magpies, kestrels as well as spotted towhees scour the the world for insects as well as grubs, assisted past times garter snakes, lizards as well as the occasional toad.  Even a few insects (primarily dragonflies, ladybird beetles as well as wasps) create got part, non to shout nearly spiders.

In provide for their work, nosotros offering a broad diverseness of native leafage (including berry crops), brush piles, a rootage of fresh H2O as well as an insecticide-free landscape.  Quite a bargain for us as well as a selection that all belongings owners tin easily brand inwards our articulation endeavor to protect the environment.

Mulberry Days

The mulberries are in conclusion ripening on our weeping mulberry in addition to large mulberry trees, near ii weeks belatedly due to our relatively chilly spring.  The wildlife, different myself, induce got been to a greater extent than than patient only are similar a shot indulging alongside gusto.

American robins, household finches in addition to fob squirrels are e'er the principal consumers, joined past times cedar waxwings, blueish jays, magpies, Bullock's orioles, spotted towhees and, if they are nevertheless around, western tanagers.  Indeed, almost all of our avian in addition to mammalian residents partake of the tasty fruit at to a greater extent than or less point.

Drought tolerant, mulberry trees are ideal for semi-arid landscapes in addition to our moisture boundary may induce got taken a toll; a dead branch or ii adorn most of the trees in addition to 1 of our larger mulberries appears to hold out on its agency out.  But I induce got learned to facial expression earlier taking a saw to these trees; they are notoriously belatedly to leafage out inward boundary in addition to may look dead good later our other trees are greenish in addition to flowering.  Needless to say, I am really pleased that our mulberry days induce got in conclusion arrived!

Yellow Sweetness Clover

Perhaps due to our moisture spring, stands of yellowish sweetness clover are peculiarly large too vivid along the Front Range this year.  That fact, combined amongst questioning from a friend, encouraged me to await into the beginning too nature of this plant.

Native to Eurasia, yellowish sweetness clover is a legume too non a truthful clover.  It is a biennial plant, having a two-year life cycle; during the start twelvemonth it is low-growing too flowerless while, inwards its minute year, it produces branching stems, upward to 6 feet tall, adorned amongst racemes of small, yellow, fragrant flowers.  The latter, which bloom from June to September, yield seeds that may survive feasible for upward to 35 years if atmospheric condition for germination are non ideal; for that reason, yellowish sweetness clover is oft invasive inwards areas amongst poor, dry out soil.  A deep tap root too makes the constitute drought tolerant and, similar other legumes, sweetness clover improves reach down character yesteryear adding nitrogen to the reach down through its root system.

Known to furnish large amounts of nectar for honeybees, yellowish sweetness clover has too been used to stabilize soils too to furnish nutritious provender for livestock.  However, this constitute contains coumarin, an anticoagulant used inwards the production of warfarin too rat poison; low-coumarin subspecies convey hence been developed for purpose inwards hayfields too pastures. 

Southwest To The Iv Corners

Looking ahead to several days alongside no commitments, I stimulate got decided on a route trip to the Four Corners region, where U.S.A. of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona in addition to Utah meet.  Though I stimulate got been to that expanse inward the past, at that spot are several routes through its varied landscape that volition give me a novel perspective on the terrain in addition to topography.  Now that nosotros stimulate got entered the summertime tourist season, I volition skip Mesa Verde National Park which I had the pleasance to watch nearly 30 years ago.

Geologically, the Four Corners is a state of volcanic features, superimposed on uplifted in addition to eroded slow Paleozoic in addition to Mesozoic sediments.  Tributaries of the Colorado River drain the landscape; the San Juan rises from numerous rivers in addition to creeks along the due south flank of the the San Juan Mountains in addition to therefore heads westward to bring together the Colorado inward Lake Powell piece the Dolores River drains the due west flank of both the San Juans in addition to the Uncompahgre Plateau every bit it flows NNW to merge alongside the Colorado northeast of Moab, Utah.  Other prominent natural features include Ship Rock (a remnant volcanic neck), Sleeping Ute Mountain, the  La Sal Range (east of Moab) in addition to the Chuska Mountains (on the New Mexico-Arizona line).

Planning to larn out Denver early on tomorrow morning, I volition follow States 285 southwest, crossing Kenosha Pass to drib into South Park.  From there, the highway crosses Trout Creek Pass to come inward the Upper Arkansas River Valley in addition to therefore turns southward, climbing over Poncha Pass to accomplish the wide San Luis Valley.  Within that valley I volition switch to States 160, heading due west in addition to therefore southwest, climbing along the South Fork of the Rio Grande River to Wolf Creek Pass.  Beyond that pass, a long descent volition accept me through Pagosa Springs in addition to into Durango, where I volition probable pass the kickoff night.  More details inward coming posts.

See also: San Juan Volcanism

Into The San Juan Watershed

From Wolf Creek Pass (elevation 10,850 feet), inward the southern San Juan Mountains, I left the Rio Grande watershed as well as entered that of the San Juan River, the Great River of the Navaho Nation.  Following a steep descent to Pagosa Springs, U.S. 160 fords the San Juan as well as begins to undulate westward through the foothills, crossing the Piedra, Los Pinos as well as Florida Rivers inward sequence (all tributaries of the San Juan River); inward doing so, the highway gradually moves away from the high wall of the Southern San Juans Mountains.

Nearing Durango, however, the route offers spectacular views of the La Plata Mountains, sculpted from a massive granite dome, which ascent northwest of the city.  On the eastern side of Durango, I turned S on U.S. of A. 550, driving atop as well as hence inside the canyon of the Animas River, amidst the largest tributaries of the San Juan.  With every mile toward the south, the landscape became noticeably drier, characterized yesteryear sage grasslands as well as mesas covered amongst piñon-juniper woodlands.

The Animas River joins the San Juan inward Farmington, New Mexico, where I volition pass the night, as well as the latter continues westward to Shiprock.  From there, it bows northwestward, passing or hence the Four Corners Monument earlier reaching Bluff, Utah; beyond that town, the San Juan snakes westward to bring together the Colorado River inside Lake Powell.  Tomorrow, my wanderings volition stay inward the San Juan watershed until I cross a depression split upward betwixt Cortez as well as Dolores, Colorado, thereby entering the watershed of the Dolores River.

From Shiprock To Ridgway

Early this morning, I left Farmington, New United Mexican States together with drove westward through the San Juan Valley.  The silhouette of Shiprock loomed inward the distance, backed past times the uneven wall of the Chuska Mountains.  Once inward the area, I had to receive to the due south side of that famous volcanic landmark to larn a photograph unmarred past times structures or ability lines.

Completing that goal, I continued westward on United States 64 to Teec Nos Pos, but within Arizona, together with and thus turned northeast of United States 160, presently passing the Four Corners Monument, crowded amongst tourists.  Just beyond that human-designated geographic point, I crossed the San Juan River for the lastly fourth dimension equally it flowed northwestward into Utah.  The Abajo Mountains rose to the NNE (in Utah) together with the to a greater extent than distant La Sals shimmered further north; closer together with to a greater extent than dominant was the massive mass of Sleeping Ute Mountain, a laccolith within the Ute Reservation of extreme southwest Colorado.  Passing to the due south together with and thus to the eastward of that sacred mountain, I headed toward Cortez; Lone Cone, the westernmost superlative of the San Juans beckoned from the due north together with the La Plata Mountains reappeared to the east.  From Cortez, I followed Route 145 northward together with presently dropped into Dolores on the Upper Dolores River; the route together with thus climbs northward through that river's scenic canyon, eventually reaching Lizard Head Pass (10,222 feet) together with and thus descending to Telluride.

After a walk together with around tiffin inward that scenic mount town, I continued downwardly Route 145 along the San Miguel River (a tributary of the Dolores) to Placerville together with and thus turned eastward on Route 62, which crosses the Dallas Divide (8900 feet); this opened upward ridge offers a spectacular reckon of The Needles, to the south, together with of other San Juan Mountains to the southeast.  The route together with thus drops to Ridgway, inward the Uncompahgre River Valley; this town, inward my opinion, occupies 1 of the close scenic locations inward Colorado.  Having completed my loop of the Four Corners region, I headed to Gunnison to pass the night.

The Arkansas River Canyon

On my frequent route trips, I prefer to accept novel routes whenever possible, thereby exposing myself to novel landscapes.  This morning, when returning dwelling from Gunnison, I thence decided to popular off on eastward on U.S. of A. 50, descending through the Arkansas River Canyon.  During all my years inward Colorado, I had all the same to comprehend that territory.

The canyon begins but eastward of Salida, equally the Arkansas snakes its agency downwards through the foothills earlier flowing out to Pueblo as well as and so out across the Colorado Plains; the department below Parkdale cuts away from the States l equally the river enters its steep-walled gorge betwixt Parkdale as well as Canon City.  Due to the size of the current that carved it, close of the Arkansas River Canyon is wider than other Front Range canyons as well as I institute that the scenery is peculiarly pleasant, oftentimes extending to the snowy peaks of the Sangre de Cristo range.  While its stone formations competition those inward other canyons, the descent is to a greater extent than gradual as well as at that spot are numerous pull-offs as well as riverside picnic sites from which to relish the scenery, birdwatch or fish.  Except for a quarry at Parkdale as well as several modest resorts along the river, the canyon is relatively gratuitous of human "development."

As mentioned above, the steep, narrow gorge section, below Parkdale, is inaccessible except past times train, raft or kayak; peradventure about trails likewise render access.  Unfortunately, that deep gorge, known equally The Royal Gorge, has become, inward my opinion, i of the close disturbing sites of natural beauty exploitation inward the State, equally signs as well as tourist traps along the lower part of the States l so clearly demonstrate.

The Flavour Of Acknowledgement

As nosotros come inwards the middle of summertime inwards the Northern Hemisphere, many of us volition sense oestrus waves, severe storms, hurricanes, floods, drought, wildfires together with H2O shortages, focusing our attending on the projected deport on of global warming.  Even climate alter deniers may endure forced to admit the reality of our predicament.

For all who tending virtually the scientific discipline of climatology together with the deport on of global warming on human populations, I recommend reading Welcome to Climate Change, the May/June, 2019 upshot of MIT Technology Review.  Drawn to my attending past times my son, the review covers efforts to cut the severity of global warming, the diverse technological agency of adapting to a warmer climate together with the suffering (present together with future) that has together with volition endure borne (inequitably) past times human societies.

No doubt, those who assay out together with read this review volition endure those who are already alarmed past times the potential deport on of climate alter together with are doing their piece of job to mitigate global warming; Trump together with his legions volition toss it inwards their collective barrel of mistaken news.  Fortunately, local governments, many countries, conservation organizations together with an increasing number of small-scale together with large industries (that sympathise the economic science of climate alter together with the importance of beingness on the correct side of this issue) are adopting together with promoting greenish technology scientific discipline despite the rhetoric together with policies of the electrical flow American Administration.

The Ridgecrest Earthquakes

The recent earthquakes around Ridgecrest, California, were odd inwards a span of ways.  The first, on July 4, was a 6.4 magnitude quake, piece the second, a 24-hour interval later, was a 7.1 magnitude quake, roughly eleven times to a greater extent than powerful.  The initial earthquake has hence been categorized equally a pre-shock, having occurred earlier a stronger 1 though both bring been followed past times numerous aftershocks; the showtime quake was centered 6.6 miles below the surface of the desert piece the minute was four miles deeper.

Well northeast of the San Andreas Fault, these rigid earthquakes developed on ii perpendicular error lines that stretch beneath the Mojave Desert at the S halt of the Owens Valley.  The latter runs NNW to SSE between the Sierra Batholith as well as the fault-block White Mountains Range of the western Great Basin; both of these ranges perish on to ascent as well as the crust of the Great Basin is nether increasing tension (pulled apart inwards a West-East direction).

These earthquakes demonstrate the complexity of error lines inwards Southern California, many of which are non completely mapped.  While the earthquakes occurred far from the San Andreas Fault (which volition eventually deliver "The Big One") their occurrence may reverberate increasing push clit per unit of measurement area inside the latter Fault as well as their crustal movements may trigger additional earthquakes equally push clit per unit of measurement area is transferred to other error lines that crisscross the region.

See also: The Nature of Aftershocks and Earthquakes & Tectonic Plates

The Rivers Of Illinois

Driving dorsum to Missouri from a marriage inwards Cincinnati, my married adult woman as well as I took the "southern route," coming across Interstate 64 from Louisville to St. Louis.  After crossing the wide Ohio River as well as undulating through the hills of the Hoosier National Forest, inwards southern Indiana, the highway enters relatively apartment terrain northward of Evansville as well as shortly crosses the Wabash River to start out its trek across south-central Illinois; surprisingly, that 150 mile segment of the Interstate alone crosses ii rivers large plenty to warrant highway signs, the Little Wabash inwards southeast Illinois as well as the Kaskaskia River inwards southwest Illinois, though a handful of creeks are also recognized.

Bordered on the due west past times the Mississippi as well as on the southward past times the Ohio, Illinois sends close all of its H2O toward the Gulf of Mexico; spell the Eastern Continental Divide passes through Chicago, canals link the Chicago as well as Calumet Rivers (which formerly emptied into Lake Michigan) amongst the Des Plaines River, which flows southward into the Illinois River, hence disrupting the Divide.  The latter river, formed past times the convergence of the Fox, Des Plaines as well as Kankakee Rivers, drains a wide swath of the State, from its northeastern corner to the St. Louis area, where it empties into the Mississippi.  Northwest Illinois is drained past times the Galena, Apple, Rock, Green as well as Edwards Rivers (north to south), all flowing westward to the Mississippi.  In west-central Illinois, the Vermillion River rises from several tributaries as well as and so flows southeastward to the Wabash (the largest northern tributary of the Ohio), spell the Kaskaskia begins its long journeying southwestward to the Mississippi as well as the Little Wabash snakes southward to the Ohio.  Finally, the Big Muddy River as well as a host of smaller streams drain the Shawnee Hills of southern as well as southeastern Illinois, most flowing toward the Ohio River, itself a massive tributary of the Mississippi.

In landscapes amongst prominent ranges or dramatic relief, it is unremarkably slowly to visualize the element watersheds; simply inwards a relatively apartment expanse of terrain (which defines most of Illinois), ane must pay unopen attending to subtle divides as well as maps to fully sympathise the regional hydrology.  Of course, the river networks of Illinois are, inwards large part, the production of glacial erosion as well as meltwater flow, acting on the underlying geology.

Another Endeavour At Eagle Bluffs

Since I am dorsum inwards Columbia, Missouri, for a week, I decided to view Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, hoping that the floodwaters had receded; alas, a sign on the entry route indicated a route closure ahead and, since I was driving our VW Beetle, I was forced to plough to a greater extent than or less inside a few hundred yards.  A bald eagle, a few crows too a yoke dozen horned larks were all that I encountered.

Returning to Route K, I decided to endeavor the Buck too Katy Lakes component of Eagle Bluffs, simply southward of McBaine.  There I was greeted yesteryear a lonely scissor-tailed flycatcher on the ability trouble too was pleased to honour that the graveled roads were passable.  Killdeer, bang-up egrets too red-winged blackbirds dominated the scene, joined yesteryear a few turkey vultures, bang-up bluish herons, tree swallows too spotted sandpipers.  Within a half-hour, I was dorsum on the road.

No doubt, the severe flooding along the Missouri River volition travel tedious to resolve, peculiarly since heavy rains convey fallen across its upper watershed inwards the yesteryear few days.  We could purpose some of that pelting hither inwards Central Missouri too await thunderstorms this afternoon.

Barry Retests Human Folly

Approaching the Louisiana coast, Tropical Storm Barry volition presently retest the folly of edifice a large metropolis at the oral fissure of North America's largest river system, one-half below sea degree in addition to subject on the protection of pumps in addition to levees.  Up to twenty inches of pelting is expected inwards some areas in addition to the Mississippi River is already inwards overflowing stage.

Of course, New Orleans is non the exclusively coastal American metropolis to blossom some an early on seafaring port precisely i would intend that nosotros accept learned our lesson over the past times 500 years.  Long enamored amongst the beauty in addition to utility of rivers in addition to the ocean, nosotros humans tin no longer crimp upward our tents or deed to a higher cave when threatened past times high water.  Even inwards the seem upward of ascent sea levels in addition to destructive annual floods, many United States of America of America cities in addition to towns stand upward their ground, determined to rebuild (with Federal assistance assured).

While port facilities in addition to historic structures cannot or should non move moved, it is fourth dimension for humans to abandon floodplains in addition to high conduct chances coastal areas.  If nosotros create non initiate the procedure (while likewise doing what nosotros tin to mitigate global warming), nature volition forcefulness our hand.

The Chorus Of Summer

Here inwards the American Midwest, the hot, humid air of summertime tends to suppress birdsong (as good every bit human activity); nevertheless, to a greater extent than or less distinctive sounds of the flavour persist: the croak of bullfrogs, the "fiddling" of crickets as well as the sudden "peent" of mutual nighthawks come upward to mind.

But the dominant chorus of summertime is that of annual cicadas, echoing through the woodlands from mid July through early on September.  While non virtually every bit abundant every bit periodic cicadas, which emerge inwards belatedly boundary every thirteen or 17 years, the annual species tin compass an annoying background din at times.

On the other hand, their chorus is nostalgic for those of us who grew upward inwards cicada province as well as who would deny these insects their brief, noisy fourth dimension inwards the sun?  Having spent several years undercover every bit a grub, drawing nutrition from a tree root, they convey simply a twosome weeks to mate as well as pose eggs earlier they die.  Besides, the heat-fueled cicada chorus indicates that summertime is one-half over, a welcome sign for those of us who prefer cool weather.

Curt Gowdy Blue Planet Park

Curt Gowdy State Park, named for the sportscaster too native of Wyoming, stretches across the eastern flank of the Laramie Mountains, westward of Cheyenne.  The Laramies are a wide uplift of Precambrian granite stretching from northern Colorado (NNW of Ft. Collins) to Casper, Wyoming, too bisected past times the Laramie River.  The Park is best reached via Route 210, which leads due north from Interstate fourscore close the acme of the ridge too before long curves eastward through scenic terrain.

Deciding to escape the oestrus moving ridge inward Metro Denver, my married adult woman too I drove upwards to Laramie today too and thence out to Curt Gowdy State Park.  Characterized past times 3 reservoirs, rolling hills adorned amongst ponderosa pino parklands, scenic outcrops of granite and, inward shaded canyons, pine-fir forest, the 3500 acre Park is pop for camping, hiking too fishing.  After stopping past times the Visitor Center, nosotros laid upwards off on the Crow Creek Trail, which leads upward through a beautiful canyon to Hidden Falls (4 miles roundtrip).  It is clearly the virtually pop hike at the Park precisely was non uncomfortably congested on this Tuesday afternoon; other than humans, nosotros encountered mule deer, golden-mantled Earth squirrels, cerise squirrels too a host of "Montane" songbirds.

In no hurry to supply to 100 score F temperatures along the Colorado Front Range, nosotros bring decided to take in Devils Tower tomorrow, a spectacular National Monument inward northeast Wyoming that nosotros bring non nevertheless had the pleasance to "closely encounter."  Details on that sense inward the side past times side post.

Journey To Devils Tower

Leaving Laramie, Wyoming, this morning, nosotros headed E on Interstate 80, climbing into the Laramie Mountains.  Beyond the pass, nosotros began a long descent on The Gangplank too thence switched to I-25 North at Cheyenne.  This highway parallels the Laramie Range, initially at a distance too thence at closed hit most Wheatland, where Laramie Peak (10,500 feet) looms to the northwest too where the Interstate crosses the Laramie River.

Farther north, afterwards passing the Glendo Reservoir too crossing the North Platte River, nosotros headed E on US xviii to Lusk, crossing nondescript grasslands along the way.  At Lusk, nosotros turned northward on US 85, shortly driving through a scenic landscape of hills too mesas too crossing the upper Cheyenne River.  Nearing Newcastle, yellow sweetness clover blanketed the hills too valleys too bee-hive boxes were spaced along the highway; northward of Newcastle, US 85 undulates through the westward border of the Black Hills, where Paleozoic redbeds adorn the scenery.  At Four Corners, nosotros cutting northwest on Route 585 to Sundance too thence followed Routes xiv too 24 northward to Devils Tower, America's commencement National Monument (established past times Theodore Roosevelt inwards 1906).

The geology too natural history of Devils Tower is described inwards an before postal service (see link) too I volition non repeat myself inwards this one.  On this mild twenty-four hours inwards mid July, nosotros were greeted past times throngs of immature human being tourists too past times an approaching summertime thunderstorm.  Though nosotros did motility into the Monument too joined a parade of humans on the Tower Trail that circles the famous landmark, Devils Tower is best appreciated at a distance, where 1 tin give the sack notice its placement inwards the landscape too persuasion its grandeur inwards relative solitude.

Through The Dark Hills As Well As Beyond

After a nighttime inwards Spearfish, South Dakota, nosotros started dorsum toward Denver this morn too decided to cutting through the Black Hills en route.  Fortunately, nosotros chose to starting fourth dimension that journeying along Route 14A, which climbs through the scenic canyon of Spearfish Creek, lined alongside sheer cliffs of Mississippian limestone; several beautiful waterfalls adorn the canyon, ane of which, Roughlock Falls, is a complex serial of cascades at the caput of Little Spearfish Canyon, perchance the almost beautiful place inwards the Black Hills.

After passing through Lead, nosotros continued southward on USA 385, passing through around of the to the lowest degree developed regions of the National Forest too purposely avoiding around the pop tourist sites (which nosotros accept visited inwards the past).  Finally dropping from the Black Hills uplift, southward of Wind Cave National Park, nosotros crossed the rolling terrain of the Missouri Plateau, drained past times the Cheyenne too White Rivers.

Just southward of Chadron, Nebraska, nosotros climbed through the Pine Ridge Escarpment too continued southward across the High Plains, highlighted past times a westward extension of the Nebraska Sandhills, southward of Alliance.  After crossing the wide North Platte Valley, nosotros stopped for the nighttime inwards Sidney, Nebraska; we'll provide to our Littleton farm tomorrow too in conclusion appear upwards the ongoing oestrus moving ridge inwards Colorado.

Relief From The North

Yesterday, nosotros returned to our Littleton farm to uncovering that several days of extreme oestrus together with brilliant sunshine had taken a damage on the vegetation.  The leaves of our native shrubs were drooping together with our "lawns" together with pastures were to a greater extent than chocolate-brown than green.

Fortunately, a mutual frigidity forepart dipped through northeastern Colorado concluding night, protecting us (for now) from the hot domes of high pull per unit of measurement area that sit down over the Eastern the U.S.A. together with the Desert Southwest.  Our afternoon high was most twenty degrees (F) cooler than it was yesterday together with clockwise winds unopen to the middle of high pull per unit of measurement area (now over the western Dakotas) ignited afternoon thunderstorms, bringing welcome pelting together with dropping the temperature into the sixties.

This welcome relief from our recent oestrus moving ridge should concluding a distich of days earlier the atmospheric ridge from the Desert Southwest expands northward in i lawsuit again.  It's a battle of high pull per unit of measurement area domes together with most of us along the Front Range are for sure rooting for our protector from the Northern Plains.

Hackberry Trees

Other than New United Mexican US locust trees in addition to chokecherry shrubs, which reproduce past times both seed in addition to suckering, hackberries are with the close mutual trees on our Littleton farm.  Their little berries are eaten past times songbirds in addition to little mammals alike, providing a reliable agency of seed dispersal.

Represented past times numerous species across the Northern Hemisphere, hackberry trees tolerate a broad arrive at of soil weather though they are close mutual on floodplains in addition to accept long been used to stabilize river banks.  Species constitute inwards Western North America are drought tolerant, explaining their remain of propagation on our property.  Their relatively soft woods has proven to move of fiddling value for structure purposes in addition to these trees, which ordinarily grow inwards mixed woodlands, accept been primarily harvested for firewood.

Though non peculiarly attractive (their fossil oil leaves oft harbor insect galls) in addition to by in addition to large of minor acme inwards the West, hackberries offering maintenance-free greenery in addition to nutrient for a large diverseness of wildlife.  What amend colonizer to host inwards this semi-arid environment?

Steady State

For the naturalist, mid summertime is the closest nature comes to a steady state.  The conditions varies piffling from hateful solar daytime to day, plants are maturing exactly the explosive increment of jump has ended as well as the novel generations of birds as well as mammals are increasingly independent.

Migrant flocks of shorebirds are straight off drifting into our wetlands exactly the massive exodus of songbirds, waterfowl as well as about raptors is nevertheless months away.  Oppressive estrus suppresses daytime activeness for nearly birds as well as mammals as well as has taken a cost on the verdant landscape of jump as well as early on summer.  Even the atmospheric turmoil of that menstruum has settled into a predictable blueprint of daytime estrus as well as eventide thunderstorms.

Most of us limit our outdoor activeness to the morn or slow daylight hours as well as our expectation for novel discoveries is at an annual low.  Only the amphibians, reptiles as well as insects thrive inwards the cauldron of mid summertime as well as many humans, myself included, yearn for the cool alter of tumble as well as the natural invigoration that comes alongside that season.

Falling Population Growth

Earlier this week, I watched a word programme that revealed the the United States of America population increment charge per unit of measurement is falling.  This is a effect of women putting off pregnancy until after inwards life in addition to a slight contraction of life expectancy.  The reporters were a fleck alarmed past times the data, focusing on the economical comport upon of fewer consumers.

But, for anyone concerned virtually global warming in addition to the wellness of natural ecosystems, this is proficient news, though the benefits volition probable live on outweighed past times continued high fertility rates inwards developing countries.  Human overpopulation, recognized every mo an environmental threat for at to the lowest degree fifty years, places stress on marine in addition to terrestrial ecosystems across the globe; depletion of natural resources, pollution, climate alter in addition to habitat devastation all play a role.

No doubt, corporations in addition to investors are alarmed past times the prospect of diminished global consumption.  But, unless nosotros reign inwards our burgeoning population, in that location volition live on far greater impacts on the economic scheme (and on the welfare of human civilization) every mo the wellness of Planet populace continues to deteriorate.

Grasshoppers Invade Las Vegas

Reminiscent of a even out from Scripture, hordes of grasshoppers convey invaded Sin City this week.  But different assumptions offered inward the Bible, nosotros convey a modern scientific explanation for this scourge.

As explained past times an entomologist on the Weather Channel this evening, the moisture wintertime together with early on trammel across the Desert Southwest produced an abundance of nutrient for this year's grasshopper population, resulting inward large swarms that may displace around agricultural harm inward the region.  Furthermore, the species that has invaded Las Vegas, Nevada, is attracted to low-cal together with in that location are few places on this planet to a greater extent than thoroughly illuminated than the Vegas Strip.

So, it appears that the residents of together with visitors to this Entertainment Mecca are beingness inconvenienced to a greater extent than for the city's low-cal pollution than for for sure behaviors that are encouraged there.  I'm for sure around evangelical ministers may disagree.

A Tardy Southwest Monsoon

Monsoon thunderstorms to a greater extent than ofttimes than non commence to prepare across the Desert Southwest past times mid July, spreading northward over the next month.  In desert areas, the storms convey welcome pelting exactly ofttimes elbow grease flash flooding and haboobs (dust storms).

This year, persistent high pressure level over the Desert Southwest has produced relentless sunshine in addition to oppressive heat; it has equally good nigh off the monsoon flow.  By mid summer, high pressure level over the Southern Plains commonly combines alongside depression pressure level over the Baja percentage to sweep inward wet from the Gulf of United Mexican United States of America in addition to the Sea of Cortez, igniting the storms.  There is roughly prove this calendar week that the high pressure level dome over the Southwest is in conclusion shifting eastward, allowing the humid monsoon winds to come across the Sonoran in addition to Chihuahuan Deserts.

While the Southwest Monsoon to a greater extent than ofttimes than non reaches the Colorado Front Range during the minute one-half of August, nosotros accept been receiving regular, late-day thunderstorms throughout July.  These storms, inward part, accept resulted from the persistent high pressure level over the Desert Southwest, which has shunted Pacific wet to the due north of the Four Corners region.  Stagnant conditions patterns ofttimes make goodness i geographic expanse at the expense of another.

Family Outing

While working on our Littleton farm this morning, I observed 4 red-tailed hawks soaring inwards the clear bluish sky.  One was significantly larger than the other 3 as well as I suspect it was the female, leading her husband as well as offspring across the South Platte Valley.

Red-tailed hawks are idea to survive monogamous as well as their mating flights are ofttimes observed inwards belatedly winter; nest edifice shortly follows as well as 1-5 eggs are to a greater extent than ofttimes than non produced past times early on spring.  Both parents incubate as well as help for the immature as well as the latter rest amongst them through the summer, setting out on their ain past times autumn.

Though red-tails may hunt piece soaring, they to a greater extent than ofttimes stem prey from a perch higher upwards opened upwards grasslands or weedy fields; mice, voles, cottontails, snakes as well as game birds are their almost mutual prey.  This morning's flying appeared to survive to a greater extent than of a identify unit of measurement affair, enjoying the relatively cool air as well as bonding earlier tumble ends their brief relationship.

Crabapple Bonanza

The mild, moisture trammel along the Colorado Front Range has produced an abundance of crabapples on our Littleton farm.  Consumed past times a broad multifariousness of birds as well as mammals, the tart fruit has also been used past times humans to brand jam, jelly, cider and, yes, wine.

Until yesterday, I was aware that cottontails ofttimes nibbled at fallen crabapples merely did non know they were such a prized ingredient of their diet.  In the belatedly afternoon, every bit thunderstorms loomed to the west, a dozen cottontails gathered beneath our largest crabapple tree, lounging inwards the shade as well as devouring the apples.  Young bunnies pushed the fruit along, nibbling at the outer pulp piece adults took inwards the entire apple, like shooting fish in a barrel munching on the globes similar cattle chewing their cud.

I suspect that my enlightenment regarding cottontails as well as crabapples is purely a reflection of the fruit bonanza as well as the always increasing release of rabbits on our property.  I'm glad that the cottontails are enjoying the windfall merely promise that the fox, hawks as well as owls recognize their chance every bit well!

Noisy Offspring

Summer is the flavor when newly fledged birds follow their parents through their territory, loudly begging for attending in addition to food.  Anyone who is attuned to nature's cycles is familiar amongst this annual in addition to sometimes annoying behavior.

Over the by week, immature chickadees, identify wrens, identify finches in addition to a entirely Cooper's hawk accept exhibited this noisy begging on our Littleton farm, no dubiety stressing their parents in addition to (to a express degree) myself every bit well.  Kudos to the immature spotted towhee (the commencement to travel born on our farm; see Towhee Romance) who seems to travel perfectly capable of finding his/her ain food.

In unopen to ways, it is reassuring to know that our avian neighbors pose upwards amongst demanding children only every bit nosotros humans do; on the other hand, their duties are over inside a few months!

Domestic Terrorism Inwards America

As Domestic Terrorism inwards the U.S. of A. continues to increase, nearly but fostered yesteryear White Nationalism, the authorities has failed to enact specific laws to care this scourge too our President continues to fuel racist too anti-immigrant fervor.

Of course, the Republican-controlled Senate, stymied yesteryear Mitch McConnell, has non taken upwards bills related to reasonable gun command too cannot muster the backbone to oppose Trump's racist rhetoric.  The FBI has made it clear that Domestic Terrorism has larn a greater threat to the welfare of Americans than ongoing International Terrorism; indeed, individuals of many races too creeds are oftentimes caught upwards inwards the violence directed at specific racial or religious groups.

Repeatedly quest constituents to pray for the victims of domestic terror is an empty political ploy.  Hopefully, the 2020 elections volition favor those candidates who are willing to straight facial expression upwards too solve these threats from those who fearfulness the NRA too Trump's constituents.  The peachy bulk of Americans, Republicans too gun owners favor universal background checks too other common-sense agency to terminate volume shootings too the relentless gun violence inwards America; it is fourth dimension for the Senate to rebuke our racist President too to accept an effective opinion against Domestic Terrorism.

Truth Teller

Last evening, my married adult woman together with I had the pleasance to attend Billy Joel's concert at Coors Field, inwards Denver.  Joining a sold-out crowd, nosotros were treated to an energetic functioning for to a greater extent than than 2 hours.

Like almost creative artists (and almost humans for that matter), Joel has surely endured painful episodes inwards his life; however, he has been peculiarly successful at baring those experiences, together with the emotions that they provoke, through his music.  Insightful and, at times, brutally honest, he addresses human nature, social injustice together with human relationships amongst niggling sentimentality together with no mysticism.

Long a fan, it was an award to run into this renowned songwriter together with to heed to his music inwards person, fifty-fifty at such a large venue.  The weather, despite an alarming forecast, cooperated together with Joel's stamina, given his historic catamenia together with the altitude, was remarkable.  Most of all, I appreciated his humor, his thought-provoking lyrics together with his no-nonsense induce got on humanity. 

Northwest To Ketchikan

Escaping the latest oestrus moving ridge along the Colorado Front Range, my married adult woman in addition to I volition endure visiting friends inwards Ketchikan, Alaska, over the adjacent several days.  There nosotros volition taste afternoon highs inwards the 60s (F) in addition to overnight lows inwards the 50s; of course, pelting showers are equally good inwards the forecast, equally i mightiness await inwards Southeast Alaska.

As I discussed in Alaska's Collage of Terranes, nearly of the State is a mosaic of exotic terranes in addition to volcanic isle arcs, subsequently molded yesteryear glaciers, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, torrents of meltwater in addition to fluctuating body of body of water levels.  Ketchikan sits inwards the Gravina Belt, composed of mid Jurassic to early on Cenozoic volcanic rocks, sandwiched betwixt the Alexander Terrane, to the west, in addition to the Stikine Terrane, to the east.  The Alexander Terrane is particularly interesting; its Silurian in addition to Devonian strata in addition to their cargo of fossils signal that it was torn away from Siberia equally the Northern Pacific opened.  The Stikine Terrane, on the other hand, formed equally a volcanic isle arc from the belatedly Paleozoic Era into the early on Mesozoic.

Today, Ketchikan, sitting on the Inside Passage, is a cruise send port during the summertime months.  Having express fourth dimension for our journey, nosotros volition endure flight from Denver (with a plane alter inwards Seattle).  More on our endangerment inwards upcoming posts.

Lunch Creek Trail

At the due north halt of the Tongass Highway, the exclusively major route through Ketchikan, is a pocket-size parking expanse that provides access to the Lunch Creek Trail.  The latter, winding through rich Pacific rainforest, shortly reaches Lunch Creek Falls in addition to and thence follows the flow downwards to a scenic bay.

Far from the cruise ships in addition to the tourist throngs inwards downtown Ketchikan, the rocky beach offers spectacular views of distant islands in addition to their forested mountains, ascension higher upwards the mutual frigidity bluish water.  We enjoyed a peaceful see for an hr or so, disturbed exclusively yesteryear an occasional line-fishing boat or float plane; indeed, fifty-fifty the wild animals was relatively scarce, represented yesteryear a lonely ruddy duck in addition to a flock of dark scoters.

This was the Alaska that I had pictured inwards my mind's middle earlier flight upwards from Seattle: tranquility, solitude in addition to an abundance of natural beauty; my thank yous to Patty in addition to Sam for their hospitality in addition to for directing us to this beautiful in addition to inspiring refuge.  More excursions are planned over the adjacent few days.

To Margaret Bay

Ketchikan spreads along the southwest coast of Revillagigedo Island but nearly of the isle is uninhabited.  Today, nosotros enjoyed a boat ride to Margaret Bay, ane of several that indent the northwest coast of Revillagigedo.

The role was to railroad train a brace of crab traps inwards Traitor's Cove as well as to accept a hike to a bear-watching site inwards the Margaret Creek Valley; the latter is managed past times the National Forest Service.  A two-mile, roundtrip hike takes visitors to an overlook blind inwards a higher house the creek, where dark ship fish for spawning salmon.  During our stay, nosotros were fortunate to let on 2 immature bears, angling at a waterfall along the creek.

The trapping examine produced ane Dungeness crab as well as nosotros stopped to depository fiscal establishment represent several shrimp traps on our agency dorsum to Ketchikan; those traps were highly productive though an octopus as well as several large starfish had eaten but about of the catch.  Beyond these highlights, the trip provided spectacular views of the waterways, mountainous islands as well as rugged peninsulas due north of Ketchikan; our thank you lot to Steve as well as Gary for the seven-hour tour.

Misty Fjords National Monument

On this mild, sunny forenoon inward Southeast Alaska, nosotros took a cruise from Ketchikan to Misty Fjords National Monument.  Established inward 1978 yesteryear the Carter Administration, this refuge protects 2 steep-walled fjords in addition to their numerous coves inside 2 1 K 1000 acres of the Tongass National Forest along the western border of the North American mainland.

These fjords feed into Behm Canal, a wide channel that borders the northern in addition to eastern sides of Revillagigedo Island.  Known for their spectacular landscape, scenic waterfalls in addition to bounding main aeroplane rookeries, Rudyerd in addition to Smeaton Bays (the 2 primary fjords) are accessed yesteryear boat or float plane.  While it was a combat belatedly inward the summertime for tiptop activeness at the rookeries, I did notice a fair give away of dove guillemots in addition to glaucous-winged gulls on the cliffs in addition to bald eagles were mutual along the waterways.  Brown in addition to dark bears, wolves in addition to Sitka deer are amid other wild animals that inhabit the Monument.

Also of involvement was New Eddystone Rock, ascent inward the kernel of Behm Canal nearly the entrance to Rudyerd Bay.  Named yesteryear the British explorer, Captain George Vancouver, inward 1793, this erosional remnant of volcanic basalt towers to a higher house a pocket-size isle where a dozen simply about harbor seals lounged inward the mid-morning sun.  Though hump-backed whales oft view Behm Canal during the warmer months, none were observed today. 

Ward Lake

On the due north side of Ketchikan, non far from the cruise shipping crowds, Ward Creek tumbles downward through a glacial valley, headed for the Tongass Narrows.  Gathering the natural springtime of several glacial lakes along the way, it eventually flows through Ward Lake earlier commencement its concluding stretch to the sea.

Surrounded past times a rich Temperate Rainforest of western cedar together with hemlock together with hosting rustic shelters built past times the Civilian Conservation Corps, Ward Lake is encircled past times a pleasant, well-engineered trail.  Educational plaques, spaced along the route, innovate visitors to the ecology of the valley together with fine wooden bridges ford the creek together with its tributaries.  Though a campgrounds borders the lake, nosotros encountered less than a dozen beau hikers on our two-mile circuit.

In this province of spectacular scenery together with untamed wilderness, relative solitude together with silence are never far away.  While those de-boarding the cruise ships caput for arts and crafts shops, historic sites, tour buses together with taverns, those of us interested inward the landscape together with wild fauna bring endless places to explore, oftentimes quite approximately town.

Totem Bight Solid Soil Park

Ten miles northward of Ketchikan, Totem Bight State Park sits on the eastward depository fiscal establishment of the Tongass Narrows.  First established inward 1938 to reconstruct totem poles together with a clan menage feature of the Tlingit together with Haida cultures, the site was together with then known equally Mud Bight (referring to a natural indentation inward the depository fiscal establishment of the waterway).

Today, a brusque trail leads through a woodland together with by fourteen totem poles, most of which overlook the Narrows.  The Clan House is opened upward to visitors, equally is a Restoration Building, where poles are carved or repaired.  A brochure explains the symbolism represented on the poles together with guided tours are offered.  In 1 area, damaged or corroded poles are left to rot on the Earth inward keeping amongst the Native Peoples tradition of recycling life from the former to the new.

Since evolving inward Africa about 140,000 years ago, nosotros humans bring colonized most regions of the globe.  Part of nature, nosotros cannot fully empathize her ecosystems without learning nearly the roles nosotros bring played.  Totem Bight State Park offers about interesting insight inward that regard, peculiarly equally it pertains to the Pacific Northwest.

Above The Cascades & Corking Basin

Flying dorsum to Denver, yesterday, nosotros changed planes inwards Seattle.  On that 2d flight, nosotros took off to the south, before long passing the massive mass of Mt. Ranier, to our east.  Curving southeastward, nosotros together with therefore caught sight of the remnant cone of Mt. St. Helens to our southwest and, inside a few minutes, flew over the snowy crest of Mt. Adams.  Next came the distinctive split of Mt. Hood, across the Columbia River Valley, together with other prominent summits further south; unfortunately, haze obscured the distant horizon together with I was unable to locate Mt. Shasta, inwards Northern California.

Having formed over the yesteryear 36 1 one m thousand years, equally the Farallon together with its remnant Juan de Fuca Plate convey been subducting beneath the North American Plate, the Cascades stretch from west-central Washington to Northern California together with leave of absence on to split today.  Indeed, many Cascade volcanoes convey developed together with eroded (or exploded) away during that fourth dimension together with the prominent volcanic peaks mentioned higher upwardly are less than two 1 one m thousand years old; the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, inwards 1980, was a clear indication that the attain is withal evolving.

East of the Cascades, is the high, dry out desert of the Great Basin, stretching from eastern Oregon together with California across Nevada, southernmost Idaho together with western Utah.  Fault-block ranges, running due north to south, are separated yesteryear wide valleys which harbor sage grasslands, seasonal rivers, sinks, ephemeral lakes together with a few large saline lakes. Unfortunately, clouds obscured the mountains of Utah together with Colorado until nosotros crossed the Front Range higher upwardly Rocky Mountain National Park together with descended into Metro Denver.

Counting On The Monsoon

As a summertime oestrus moving ridge continues along the Colorado Front Range, many of us are counting on the Southwest Monsoon to intermission this stagnant conditions pattern.  After all, the monsoon commonly reaches the Front Range past times mid August, bringing cooler conditions too daily episodes of precipitation.

This year, a persistent high pressure level dome over the Four Corners portion is blocking the inflow of wet from the Gulf of United Mexican United States too the Sea of Cortez; until that dome breaks downward or moves eastward, the monsoon cannot develop.  Recent extreme oestrus inward Phoenix too Las Vegas reverberate that "blocking high" too nosotros are expected to approach 100 degrees F inward Denver inside the adjacent few days.

While this Southwest oestrus moving ridge is related to a greater extent than to a persistent atmospheric ridge than to global warming, i suspects that climate alter volition disrupt seasonal patterns across the planet.  For now, we're but counting on a normal, if tardy, belatedly summertime monsoon.

The Nature Of Adventure

Having but returned from my kickoff trip to Alaska, I constitute it to last every flake the adventure I had expected.  On the other hand, adventure demand non last a journeying to a distant or exotic location.

In my mind, the adventures inward our life may last physical, mental or emotional.  Physical adventures are the chance to explore novel landscape, whether it last a far-off land, an unvisited urban heart or a nature save but downward the road.  Novice birders in addition to naturalists sympathise this signal of thought since every outing is an adventure, replete alongside novel in addition to unexpected sightings; adventure oftentimes unfolds inward our ain backyard.

While the give-and-take adventure is close oftentimes associated alongside travel, I advise that it likewise applies to one's willingness to get got on a novel job, larn a novel skill, chance a novel human relationship or rethink the "truths" implanted inward our innocent, childhood brains.  In all cases, the courage to brand the journeying is essential in addition to the rewards of regain far function yesteryear master copy expectations; adventure is a process.

A Skunk At Dusk

After delaying yard operate to avoid the afternoon heat, I was returning to the household final even out every bit dusk deepened across our Littleton farm.  Passing a shrub row, I caught sight of a striped skunk at the final minute, its tail already raised inwards self-defense.

Avoided yesteryear humans as well as unopen to predators due to their noxious spray, these mutual suburban residents are also known to acquit rabies; indeed, in that place has been an epidemic of skunk-borne rabies inwards southwest Denver inwards recent years.  Fortunately, this skunk was non aggressive as well as did non demonstrate whatever odd behavior; nevertheless, I gave it a broad berth every bit I headed for the house.

Usually seen lonely except when females convey immature inwards tow, striped skunks are omnivores, favoring insects only also consuming immature rodents, eggs, berries as well as diverse crops.  Great horned owls are ane of the few predators unfazed yesteryear their odiferous as well as irritating spray.  While interesting to divulge at a distance, final evening's visitor was a fleck also unopen for comfort.  

Pacific Ranges Of British Columbia

On our flying from Ketchikan to Seattle terminal week, nosotros crossed over an expanse of British Columbia alongside spectacular ranges, massive H2O ice sheets, glaciers as well as tortuous fjords.  This was the Pacific Ranges Province of the Coastal Mountains of North America, the southernmost inwards British Columbia.

Harboring Mt. Waddington (13,186 feet), the highest tiptop inwards British Columbia, as well as 4 Temperate Zone Ice Sheets (the largest on the planet), it is a beautiful landscape created past times tectonic collision, subduction volcanism, glacial erosion, copious atmospheric precipitation as well as the interaction of state as well as sea.  A maze of rivers as well as inlets dissect the terrain, best appreciated from an aircraft.

Sparsely populated, the Pacific Ranges Province, extending northwestward from Vancouver, is genuinely comprised of xiii main mount ranges as well as virtually equally many subranges.  It is bounded on the eastward past times the Interior Plateau of British Columbia and, on the west, past times the numerous islands as well as channels of the Inside Passage.

The Nisqually River

One of the many landscape features that I observed during our flying from Seattle to Denver concluding calendar week was the delta of the Nisqually River, at the southernmost cease of Puget Sound.  This relatively untouched ecosystem of freshwater wetlands in addition to tidal marshes is protected inside the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.  The River itself is named for the Nisqually Tribe that had settled close its oral fissure long earlier the arrival of European explorers.

The Nisqually River rises from the Nisqually Glacier on the southward flank of Mt. Ranier, gathering numerous tributaries from that massive stratovolcano equally it descends toward the Columbia River Valley.  Before reaching that watershed, it curves westward in addition to hence northwestward, passing through Alder Lake en road to Puget Sound, due east of Olympia.

Far from the longest or largest river inwards Washington, the Nisqually even hence connects the State's highest top (14,410 feet) alongside ane of its to a greater extent than pristine tidal wetlands; inside a distance of fourscore miles, the river passes through the varied life zones of the Pacific Northwest.

Impeach The Chosen One!

The fourth dimension has come upwards for Congress (Democrats as well as Republicans alike) to acknowledge that nosotros cannot opportunity roughly other sixteen months of a Trump Presidency.  Now describing himself equally "The Chosen One," our Dear Leader is shifting his policies on a daily basis, having forced out around of his competent advisors as well as Cabinet Members.

Never heed the findings of the Mueller Investigation; this failed homo of affairs is incapable of running our regime as well as his extreme narcissism affects his approach to every issue.  Destroying the legacy of President Obama seems to last his exclusively consistent goal.

Slashing environmental regulations, offending Allies, threatening our economic scheme as well as healthcare, trashing our Intelligence Agencies, ridiculing our costless press, fomenting racism as well as aligning himself alongside unusual dictators are his exclusively "achievements."  Our Democracy is nether onslaught yesteryear this disturbed bigot as well as it is fourth dimension for Impeachment, based primarily on his incompetence, racism, un-American demeanour as well as mental instability. 

Pumpkin Seed Dormancy

This year, next a cool, wet boundary together with a hot, dry out summer, a pumpkin constitute appeared on our Littleton, Colorado, farm.  Not a surprising event, i powerfulness think, simply nosotros accept non planted pumpkins hither for at to the lowest degree 23 years!

The lonely constitute is growing inwards an expanse where nosotros i time had a pumpkin field together with is clearly the production of a long dormant seed.  While close pumpkin seeds germinate easily, given proper conditions, this i remained dormant for either exogenous or endogenous reasons; the erstwhile refers to inadequate moisture, oestrus or nutrients (or an unusually dense seed coat that did non allow essential ingredients to arrive at the seed embryo) spell the latter indicates abnormalities or inhibitors inside the embryo itself.   This year, proper weather condition together with a receptive seed led to germination.

Seed dormancy is mutual inwards the constitute world, preventing germination when environmental weather condition create non favor survival or when over-crowding would upshot if all seeds germinated.  Dormant seeds that are hundreds or fifty-fifty thousands of years old accept been discovered inwards nature simply our 23+ year-old pumpkin constitute is impressive plenty for me!

Sailing Amongst Magellan

Attending a used majority sale concluding week, my married adult woman bought Over the Edge of the World, past times Laurence Bergreen, which documents "Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe."  She idea I powerfulness bask the majority and, every bit usual, she was right.  Ironically, Magellan, his 260 homo crew in addition to their 5 ships ready off from Seville, Spain, 500 years agone this month!

Portuguese past times birth, Magellan came of historic menses during the Golden Age of Portuguese navigation, when Vasco de Gama in addition to other mariners established merchandise routes to the Spice Islands (Indonesia) past times sailing along the southern coasts of Africa in addition to Asia.  Convinced that he could achieve that same goal past times heading due west (but denied funding past times Portugal), Magellan turned to the King of Espana to sponsor his voyage, promising to provide inside 2 years amongst untold riches from the Spice Islands.

Three years later, a handful of the master crew members in addition to alone i send (the Victoria) limped dorsum to the Castilian Coast, devoid of riches only having proved, for the outset time, that our habitation planet is indeed a globe.  Highlights of Magellan's expedition (all from Bergreen's account), volition endure offered inwards coming posts.  Having read the outset few chapters to date, I highly recommend the book.

Searching For The Strait

Twenty-five years earlier Magellan's voyage, much of Eurasia too Africa had been mapped exactly exploration of the seas too their unknown lands awaited.  Since Portuguese too Castilian mariners dominated that exploration, Pope Alexander VI arbitrarily drew a describe from pole to pole that cutting through eastern Brazil (then even so discovered), declaring that Portugal could claim lands eastward of that describe too Espana had rights to lands to its west.  Of course, Columbus had claimed Caribbean Area islands for Espana on his voyages inwards the belatedly 15th Century too Portuguese mariners would honor the Brazilian Coast before long thereafter (in 1500 AD).

When Magellan's armada stopped inwards the Canary Islands to direct maintain on to a greater extent than supplies, he learned that the King of Portugal had sent a fleet to arrest him too disrupt his search for a western road to the Spice Islands (Indonesia).  Magellan hence left early on too avoided the established road to Brazil, sailing far downwards the African Coast earlier crossing the Atlantic; though he outwitted his Portuguese pursuers, the voyage was much longer than expected, fueling discontent alongside his crew.

Finally reaching Rio de Janeiro inwards belatedly Dec (4 months later on leaving Seville), Magellan's fleet worked their agency downwards the South American Coast, dealing with storms, unsafe shoals too both friendly too hostile native tribes.  An Easter Mutiny was aborted exactly 1 ship, the Santiago, was lost inwards a tempest (though well-nigh of the crew survived).  Large bays along the Argentinian Coast were explored too sounded, hoping that they powerfulness live the Strait to the Spice Islands, exactly no such strait was found.  After waiting out the Southern wintertime inwards Port St. Julian Bay, the remaining 4 ships reached the eastern entrance to the Strait of Magellan on Oct 21, 1520, fourteen months later on leaving Seville.

Note:  Most of this data was taken from Over the Edge of the World, past times Laurence Bergreen, a detailed even so highly readable describe of piece of job concern human relationship of Magellan's voyage.  See previous post.

Crossing The Dandy Ocean

It took Magellan's crew a total calendar month to negotiate the direct that would come upwardly to comport his name.  Strong currents, fog, a tortuous course, unsafe rocky outcrops too shifting gales slowed progress too a mutiny on the San Antonio, the chief render ship, cutting the fleet to iii boats past times the fourth dimension they entered the Pacific inward tardily November, 1520.

Having no concept of the corking distance that yet prevarication ahead, Magellan sailed northward, paralleling the coast of South America equally far equally present-day Santiago, Chile.  Then fishing to the WNW, his ships caught the merchandise winds too enjoyed pleasant atmospheric condition for the adjacent iii months.  Unfortunately, since maps of the Pacific had non yet been created past times Europeans, the fleet could non "island hop" to restore supplies; malnutrition too scurvy took a pregnant terms on the crew earlier they finally reached Guam inward early on March, 1521.  There they encountered friendly natives whom they managed to mistreat too kill despite receiving life-saving nutrient too water.

By mid March, the fleet reached the Philippines, having crossed the Pacific Ocean inward iii too a one-half months.  Today, nosotros know that their finish of reaching the Spice Islands (Indonesia) was unopen to realized but, inward 1521, alongside no maps of Southeast Asia available, Magellan too his crew were equally lost equally they were at the Strait.

Note:  As mentioned inward the lastly 2 posts, these brief summaries are taken from Over the Edge of the World, past times Laurence Bergreen.  Interested readers are encouraged to obtain that highly-detailed simply easily read concern human relationship of Magellan's Journey.

See also: Polynesian Migration  for perspective on pre-European colonization of the Western Pacific.

Magellan's Mixed Legacy

Ferdinand Magellan was sure enough a courageous private in addition to an special navigator, having crossed the Atlantic, maneuvered through a dangerous, unmapped strait in addition to rallied his crew equally they spent months on an unknown body of body of water (the Pacific), dying off from malnutrition in addition to scurvy.  Then again, he took on slaves, ordered the slaughter of many native villagers in addition to left 2 mutineers on a small, uninhabited island.

And but equally his destination was close to live realized, having received a warm welcome from natives inwards the Philippines, he attacks a manly someone monarch in addition to his tribe who refused to convert to Catholicism; Magellan was killed inwards that battle in addition to his remains were never recovered.  In to a greater extent than stark terms, Magellan survived 19 months at sea, oft nether trying weather condition in addition to inwards uncharted waters, to perish on a beach inwards the Philippines during a battle of his ain making.

Of course, Magellan's journeying began non long later the Castilian Inquisition, when religious fervor was at a peak.  But hither was a homo who undertook a treacherous circumnavigation of our planet based on the leading scientific assessments of his twenty-four hr menstruum exclusively to succumb to religious mysticism.  On both counts he taught humanity a peachy deal.

See the previous iii posts for details, all taken from Over the Edge of the World, yesteryear Laurence Bergreen 

Dorian Gains Strength

Hurricane Dorian, churning toward the Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas together with the Atlantic Coast of Florida, has strengthened to a Category four tempest this evening, amongst maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.  Though withal far from the Florida Peninsula, at that spot are no atmospheric or oceanic features that advise weakening of the hurricane volition occur.

Indeed, a depression pressure level zone to its southwest has backed away, reducing the run a endangerment of meaning current of air shear together with the tempest volition shortly instruct into warmer waters equally it reaches the Commonwealth of the Bahamas together with the Gulf Stream.  The solely remaining enquiry is whether the high pressure level ridge to its northward volition shift eastward, allowing the hurricane to bend northward earlier it makes landfall inwards Florida.  Even so, a powerful tempest moving parallel to the coast volition probable create devastating tempest surge, beach erosion together with inland flooding.

Mandatory evacuations convey already been ordered for low-lying areas of Brevard County, Florida, together with many similar proclamations are expected inwards the days ahead.  Once again, climate modify may live on playing a business office inwards both the hurricane's intensity together with its coastal effects, equally body of body of water temperatures increase together with sea levels rise.  Followup posts are anticipated over the coming week.

Flashback Postal Service Xv

As the forecasts of Hurricane Dorian's path popular off along to wobble, I am reminded of a postal service from February, 2010.  My sympathies prevarication amongst the beleaguered meteorologists.

See: Physicians & Meteorologists

Eagle Bluffs Later The Flood

For the starting fourth dimension time since mid spring, I visited Eagle Bluffs Conservation expanse in addition to was able to access the entire refuge.  The extensive flooding that had long persisted across the Missouri River floodplain has lastly receded.

Dense fog enveloped the refuge when I starting fourth dimension arrived simply the belatedly August Sun chop-chop broke through the haze, revealing a rich light-green landscape, adorned amongst numerous stands of rose mallow.  Despite the inviting scenery, birdlife was relatively sparse, dominated yesteryear large flocks of turkey vultures in addition to virtually 50 great-blue herons.  While a few red-tailed hawks patrolled the floodplain, bald eagles were non observed and, to my dismay, shorebirds were express to killdeer in addition to lesser yellowlegs.

While it was far from the best birding excursion of the year, it was rewarding to re-explore the entire refuge, most of which was submerged for the yesteryear 2 months.  The resilience of found in addition to creature life was inspiring to detect in addition to the flood's express effects on Eagle-Bluffs roadways in addition to levees was remarkable.  Though my catch to Missouri volition live relatively brief, I promise to furnish to this fabulous refuge inwards the fall, when hordes of migrant waterfowl descend on the floodplain.

Flashback Postal Service Xvi

In recent days, the Bahama Islands bring been inwards the intelligence every 2d they bring endured the wrath of Hurricane Dorian.  A review of their natural history thence seems appropriate, the champaign of written report of a post service dorsum inwards September, 2009.

See: Natural History of the Bahamas

Ospreys Inwards Missouri

Once mutual along all major rivers together with large lakes inward Missouri, ospreys were extirpated from the State during the widespread purpose of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane inward the early-mid 20th Century.  Once that pesticide was banned, they bring made a gradual comeback exactly remained primarily seasonal migrants until a reintroduction conception began inward the mid 1990s; fifty-fifty today, these "fish hawks" are best observed every bit they migrate through the Mississippi together with Missouri River Valleys, on their agency to together with from breeding grounds to our north.

Nevertheless, on this mild, late-summer morning, my married adult woman together with I encountered a lonely osprey at Perry Phillips Lake, inward due south Columbia.  Perched on a tall post service due south of the lake, he/she was easily identified past times its large size, white caput together with distinctive dark eye-stripe.  Since the reintroduction programme has concentrated on large reservoirs across Missouri, I suspect this aeroplane was a production of that endeavour together with is wandering most the percentage earlier heading due south inward October.

Highly adaptable, ospreys inhabit all Continents except Antarctica, favoring coastlines, large rivers together with lakes.  In North America, the bulk breed along both Coasts, inward Florida together with throughout the Great Lakes percentage exactly many nest across Alaska, Canada, the Northern U.S, the Mississippi Valley together with the Rocky Mountain corridor.  Come autumn, most caput for Florida, the Gulf Coast, Southern California, Central America or South America.  Hopefully, these violet raptors volition larn increasingly mutual breeding residents hither inward Missouri.

Pollution Begets Pollution

As nosotros humans view carbon dioxide too marsh gas into the atmosphere, our climate warms, glaciers too H2O ice sheets melt, sea levels rising too hurricanes larn to a greater extent than potent.  Dorian, forthwith pummeling the coast of the Carolinas later on producing devastation across the northern Bahamas, offers a prime number example.

Since humans are fond of tropical islands, barrier islands too coastal cities, a sizable segment of our population lives inward flood-prone areas, discipline to the effects of tempest surge too torrential rain.  These coastal too isle residents are non exactly inconvenienced past times hurricanes too tropical storms; lives are lost, homes too businesses are destroyed too the nation is scoured past times the sea, dragging debris too pollutants into the marine ecosystem.

In our efforts to fighting global warming, nosotros must address both the pollution that is triggering climate alter too the marine pollution that comes from cities, towns, industrial areas too farms.  Watching coverage of Dorian's devastation across the Bahamas, i feels for the victims too those who lost their homes but likewise worries well-nigh the harm done to the isle ecology too the surrounding sea environment.  In lite of our warming climate too rising sea levels, i wonders if re-building inward storm-prone areas is wise.

Up The Missouri Valley

Since I stimulate got several days to provide to Colorado, I decided to follow the Missouri River Valley northwestward to Montana in addition to and then caput southward to Denver.  This volition accept me through or therefore heretofore unexplored country, including western North Dakota, 1 of entirely 2 United States of America that I stimulate got yet to see (the other is Hawaii).

North of Kansas City, Interstate 29 undulates across the hills due east of the Missouri in addition to the river remains out of view.  Nearing Mound City, however, the highway drops onto its wide floodplain, crisscrossed amongst small-scale rivers, creeks in addition to canals.  Once I entered southwestern Iowa, where the river is closer to the highway, a floodscape unfolded, having yet to recover from the saltation in addition to early on summertime deluge.  There, hundreds of American white pelicans gathered on the extensive shallows in addition to clouds of swallows strafed the flooded fields, preparing for their tumble migration.  As 1 mightiness expect, swell bluish herons were likewise abundant along this stretch of highway.

Farther north, equally the Interstate veers away from the river, the late-summer landscape was drier in addition to crop fields dominated the floodplain; rejoining the Missouri at Sioux City, I decided to destination for the night.  Tomorrow, I'll follow the Missouri Valley northwestward to Pierre, South Dakota, in addition to and then N toward Bismarck, North Dakota.

Dakota Wetlands

On the minute leg of my journeying upwardly the Missouri Valley, I encountered dense fog on the bottomlands from Sioux City to Yankton in addition to spectacular views of the Valley further to the northwest, where Route 44 crosses Lake Francis Case, which instantly swallows the river; I too enjoyed scenic vistas across the Fort Pierre National Grassland, southward of Pierre, South Dakota.  But the highlight of this segment was provided past times the abundant wetlands across the Dakotas in addition to the avian migrants that they attract.

Due to the underlying geology in addition to the high H2O table, numerous lakes, ponds, "potholes," sloughs in addition to marshlands surface inside in addition to betwixt the hayfields, croplands in addition to pastures.  At this fourth dimension of year, virtually are crowded amongst ducks, coot, American white pelicans, cormorants, ibis, gulls, yellow-headed blackbirds in addition to shorebirds; amid the latter, American avocets were peculiarly abundant.  What mightiness live considered a spectacle inwards other States is obviously taken for granted hither in addition to rubber pullouts were, unfortunately, few in addition to far between; nevertheless, the migrants made my day, fifty-fifty when observed at sixty mph (see Addendum).

Of course, the lastly highlight occurred when I entered North Dakota for the starting fourth dimension time (my 49th State).  This sense was peculiarly rewarding since I was on U.S.A. 83, locally known every bit the Lawrence Welk Highway; after all, Mr. Welk was my maternal grandmother's minute favorite entertainer (close on the heels of Engelbert Humperdinck).  Since I spent a cracking bargain of my childhood at her domicile (and, later, she at ours), whatever reference to Lawrence Welk ever brings her to mind.  Wish she could cause got been in that place today!

Addendum:  To live fair, in that place are numerous NWRs inwards the Dakotas where ane tin safely uncovering the spectacle of waterfowl migrations.  If I had to a greater extent than time, I would cause got visited at to the lowest degree a few of them.