Aigai

February 07, 2025

Yesterday we docked early in the port of Thessaloniki (Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη), also known as Thessalonica, Saloniki, Salonika, or Salonica. Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece (just over one million inhabitants) and the capital of the geographic region of Macedonia. In Greek, the city is also known as Symprotévousa (literally “the co-capital”), a reference to its historical status as the “co-reigning” city (Symvasilévousa) of the Byzantine Empire alongside Constantinople. From there we caught an early bus for a 1-1/2-hour ride to visit the royal tombs in Vergina. The small town of Vergina (Greek: Βεργίνα) is in Northern Greece, part of the Veria municipality in Imathia, Central Macedonia. Vergina was established in 1922 in the aftermath of the population exchanges after the Treaty of Lausanne which officially resolved the conflict that had arisen between the Ottoman Empire and the Allied nations after World War I. Vergina is best known as the site of ancient Aigai (Ancient Greek: Αἰγαί,), the first capital of Macedon.

When I looked online, I found the capital of Macedonia was moved from Aigia (Vergina) to Pella in the 5th Century BCE, and Pella was the birthplace of Alexander the Great, but Vergina (Aigia) still served as the royal burial grounds. The town became internationally famous in 1977 when the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed what he claimed was the burial site of the kings of Macedonia, including the tomb of Philip II. In 336 BCE Philip II was assassinated in Aigai’s theatre and his son, Alexander the Great, was proclaimed king. Researchers uncovered three tombs at Vergina in 1977. Tomb I contained Philip II, Alexander’s father, tomb II belonged to Philip III of Macedon, Alexander’s half-brother, while tomb III contained Alexander IV, Alexander’s son. While Tomb I had been looted, Tombs II and III were intact and contained an array of burial goods. Aigai was also the site of an extensive royal palace and the current town of Vergina sits atop a vast burial acropolis which has only been partially excavated. The new archaeological museum of Vergina was built to house the artifacts found at Aigai (completed in 2022) and is one of the most important museums in Greece. The first museum at the site of the tombs contains artifacts excavated there. Aigai has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status as “a significant development in European civilization, at the transition from classical city-state to the imperial structure of the Hellenistic and Roman periods”.

Our tour of Aigia was designed to take us to the new museum located 10 minutes outside of Vergina, and then to the tombs located within the village. I struggled with this placement as I had no context for the artifacts on display. The new museum began with an overview of Alexander and his conquest of the known world and a replica of the second floor of the royal palace (in grand detail). This led to the funerary stones and monuments, some of the pottery and goods from the burials, and closed with the decorative adornments from the cluster of the “queen’s burials”. Little made sense to me until we visited the village where the excavations took place. The tombs were the most impressive excavation and had their own museum, but I would have liked to have taken less time at the new museum and more time exploring the other excavations. Maybe it is just me.

Thoughts: As we traveled to Aigai, our tour guide was from Thessaloniki and her pride was obvious concerning the role of this second capital of Greece and the importance of the region of Macedonia in the development of the “entire world” (read, Western World). I cannot say much, as I made sure to bring my Chiefs shirt to wear this Sunday during the Super Bowl to claim my own association. We take pride in who we are and where we are from. This is true around the world. The trick is to take pride in one without disparaging others. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Waves

February 05, 2025

Last night’s sleep was hard as our ship headed into the Aegean Sea. Melissa had worried about being on open water and prepared with a motion sickness remedy. The problem was, she did not take it in advance. I reserved an elegant Italian dinner in the ship-board restaurant, and we were seated next to a window to allow us to overlook the water. The meal started as we watched the rolling waves along with our first three courses. By the time we reached the main course melissa’s stomach was rolling along with the ocean. She excused herself and went back to our stateroom for the medicine. I finished the meal (it was amazing) and watched as the waves continued to roll. I thought nothing of the waves as I crawled into bed and lay down for what I thought was going to be a good night’s sleep. I was wrong. When I lay down all I could feel was the rolling of the ocean. Neither of us had been on a ship in the open ocean and we figured we were just being susceptible to the rolling waves.

When I looked online, I found most ocean waves are wind generated. Wind blowing across the water’s surface creates little disturbances or ripples (capillary waves) that start from gentle breezes. Capillary waves have a rounded crest with a V-shaped trough, and wavelengths around 1 inch (less than 1.7 cm). These small ripples give the wind something to “grip” to create larger waves as the wind increases. Once the wavelength exceeds 1 inch (1.7 cm) the wave transitions from a capillary wave to a wind wave. All waves are opposed by a restoring force that attempts to return the water to calm. The restoring force of capillary waves is the surface tension of the water, but for wind-generated waves the restoring force is gravity. As the energy of the wind increases, so does the size, length, and speed of the waves. There are three important factors determining how much energy is transferred from wind to waves, and how large the waves get. These are wind speed, wind duration, and distance the wind blows across the water in the same direction (fetch). Increasing any of these factors increases the energy of wind waves along with their size and speed. There is an upper limit to how large wind waves can get. As wind increases, the waves get larger, but when the wave height exceeds 1/7 of the wavelength, the wave becomes unstable and collapses, forming whitecaps.

The waves kept Melissa and I up for much of the night and we were tired the new day. While Melissa chose to stay on the ship, I set out on the day’s excursion to Dion, an archaeological site from the Classical Greek and Roman eras. Melissa asked several of the crew about the waves and none of them had noticed anything unusual (i.e., it was us). I traveled with other “landlubbers” who had experienced excessive waves. Over lunch, it was mentioned the rough seas had been created by the hundreds of earthquakes that rattled the Greek islands on the Aegean Sea. This “seismic swarm” could continue for weeks before diminishing. Santorini’s Mayor Nikos Zorzos told The AP Tuesday, “This phenomenon may play out with small quakes or a single, slightly stronger one, followed by gradual subsidence.” The quakes are credited with the rough sea and waves we experienced. There are thousands of residents and seasonal workers who have left the Cycladic Islands as quakes up to magnitude 5 have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday.

Thoughts: The waves we encountered the night before left melissa and I both seeking solace. Melissa found it lying on a beach chair on the ship overlooking the city of Volos. As I struggled to walk the site of Dion, I found it with a large dog. I stopped listening to the lecture and felt something on my hand. Looking down I saw a scraggly dog nudging me for attention. I stopped to pet him, and I did feel better. Animals have an uncanny ability to sense unease and try to make us feel better. I would be nice if humans could find the same compassion. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Barriers

February 04, 2025

After a quick 20-hour travel flight (yesterday) we arrived in Athens, Greece. A tour of Greece and the Greek Isles had been on my bucket list for the last 40 years, so I was excited. After arriving in Athens, we boarded a bus which would take us to the waiting ship where we would spend the next week. The bus chaperone pointed out several points of interest as we ‘whizzed by’ amid rush hour traffic, but the drive was mainly accomplished in silence. As we moved along, I noticed the retainer walls that flanked both sides of the motorway. The noise barriers were made of metal posts that had clear 10-foot (3 m) inserts, not the concrete sound walls I am used to seeing in the US. The other aspect that interested me were the bird silhouettes placed on each panel of the noise barrier.

When I looked online, I found noise barriers (also called a soundwall, noise wall, sound berm, sound barrier, or acoustical barrier) are exterior structures designed to protect inhabitants of sensitive land use areas from noise pollution. Noise barriers are the most effective method of mitigating roadway, railway, and industrial noise sources, other than cessation of the source activity itself. Extensive use of noise barriers began in the US after noise regulations were introduced in the early 1970’s. Several different materials are used for noise barriers, including masonry, earthwork or berms, steel, wood, concrete, plastics, insulating wool, or composites. Walls made of absorptive material mitigate sound differently than hard surfaces. It is also possible to make noise barriers with active materials such as solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity while reducing traffic noise. Noise barriers can be effective tools for noise pollution abatement, but certain locations and topographies are not suitable for their use. Cost and looks also play a role in the choice of noise barriers. Potential disadvantages of noise barriers can be blocked vision for motorists and rail passengers. While glass elements in the barriers can reduce visual obstruction, they require regular cleaning, provide an expanded target for graffiti, and create a possibility of bird strikes in the clear barriers

These disadvantages were evident in the barriers along the motorway in Athens. Environmental noise barriers are common in Greece to reduce noise being emitted from outdoor installations or sources of traffic/railway noise. Most such projects involve the construction of opaque or transparent noise barriers or even entire enclosures in cases of small/medium-size installations. Each of the clear glass panels along the motorway had a bird silhouette emblazoned on it. It took me a while to figure out why these silhouettes were on the panels. Then I remembered several past blogs where I discussed the problem of bird strikes. The bird figures warned any birds there was a solid surface, or at least another bird they needed to avoid. There were a few sections of barriers that did not contain bird silhouettes. Interestingly, these sections were heavily tagged with graffiti. While such tags are considered an act of vandalism by some, many display an elaborate style and can often be identified through their uniqueness and methods.

Thoughts: The bird silhouettes and graffiti tags on the noise barriers were both a way of making a presence known. The creators of the barriers wanted to make their presence known to keep birds from flying into the walls. The graffiti was an effort by the taggers to let others in the city know they existed, and their presence mattered. The desire to be recognized seems innate to humans. It is even more so as we seek to create respect and unity among us all. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Crab

January 31, 2025

One of my NY Times feeds suggested a unique approach to stemming the advance of an invasive species which has taken over New England. The invasion is aided by the species being omnivores, scavengers, and cannibals, meaning they sustain themselves on almost any organic food. They have a high fecundity, with females releasing as many as 185,000 eggs a year. They survive in water temperatures from freezing (32F/0C) to 86F (30C) and tolerate sweet water zones where salt meets fresh. An adult can live more than 10 days out of water. Taken together, these characteristics explain why they were first documented along the United States coast in 1817 and continue their tour of the temperate world. The suggested remedy to control the European green crab was to eat them.

When I looked online, I found the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is a common near shore (littoral) crab known by different names around the world. In North America and South Africa, it is called the European green crab, while in the British Isles it is referred to as the shore crab, or green shore crab. The crab is a widespread invasive species and is listed among the 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species. The green crab is native to the north-east Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea, but has colonized similar habitats in Australia, South Africa, South America, and both Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. The adult crab grows to a carapace (back shell) up to 2.4 inches (60 mm) long and 3.5 inches (90 mm) wide. It can grow larger outside its native range, reaching 3.9 inches (100 mm) wide in British Columbia. The color of the green crab varies greatly, from green to brown, grey, or red. While this variation has a genetic component, it is largely due to local environmental factors. The crab feeds on a variety of mollusks, worms, and small crustaceans, and has affected the fisheries where it spread. The crab has been dispersed in a variety of ways, including on ships’ hulls, sea planes, packing materials, and bivalves moved for aquaculture.

In its native range, European green crab is mostly used as an ingredient in soups and sauces. Italian fisher people cultivate soft-shell green crabs (moeche in Venetian, moleche in Italian) and sell hard-shell crabs for their roe (masinette). Several groups in New England have successfully adapted these methods to produce soft-shell green crabs from the invasive species. Various groups have looked at using green crabs in cuisine. The Green Crab Cookbook (2019) was released and included recipes for soft-shell green crab, green crab roe, green crab stock, and green crab meat. Researchers at the University of Maine have actively been developing green crab products with the goals of driving business interest, stimulating a commercial green crab fishery, and alleviating predation effects. The same researchers developed a patty product made from minced green crab meat using restructuring additives (transglutaminase, dried egg white, isolated soy protein). Americans consume enormous amounts of seafood, and several favorites (like scallops, lobster, and salmon) can be too expensive for many households. The low-cost crabs are abundant, easy to catch, and are delicious, especially as a full-bodied stock that becomes the basis for ramen.

Thoughts: Some invasive species do not lend themselves to eating, but the European green crab is an exception. The one obstacle comes with the small size of the carapace. The tiny claws, legs and segmented body chambers people typically eat are difficult to pick. The small size is the one that has protected this crab from human consumption. The smaller make an excellent stock and seasoned and dried can be a crunchy hand food eaten whole, much like a potato chip. In the US, invasive species like the Asian carp (Family, Cyprinidae) and green crab are often seen as fertilizer, while they are eaten as a delicacy elsewhere. Climate change and invasive species might force a reassessment. The trick calling them something else and learning how to fix them. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Lunar

January 30, 2025

Listening to the radio yesterday I was inundated by references to the start of the Lunar New Year on January 29th. I was somewhat surprised as there is not a large Asian population in our state. As of 2022 there were 47,413 (1.7%) Asian Americans living in Arkansas. This was a national broadcast, but again it was a country music station. Still, the references got me hankering for dumplings and egg rolls. I texted Melissa on my way home and she agreed this sounded like a good dinner. Not having a “go to” Asian restaurant in town I decided to buy a frozen variety from the market and cook them in the air fryer. I realized this was not the same as dim sum (small bites) but it was the closest I could come to it on short notice. I came home excited by the prospect of a tasty meal to kick off our unofficial celebration of the Lunar New Year.

When I looked online, I found there is a difference between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year. While they are can be used interchangeably, Chinese New Year is primarily celebrated in China, where it is a public holiday and one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, South Korea, and parts of southeast Asia instead celebrate this as Lunar New Year. Traditionally, the celebration begins with a large family meal on Lunar New Year’s Eve and continues for the next 15 days, or until the following Lantern Festival (the next full moon). Symbolic traditions include eating fish (associated with wealth) or noodles (for longevity). People may also give red envelopes with money inside (hóngbāo) to express good wishes, set off fireworks and dragon dances to ward off evil spirits (Nian, the monster afraid of red), offer sacrifices to their ancestors for protection, and reunite with family to enjoy the celebrations. In China and Vietnam, the event correlates with the start of spring so floral arrangements adorn houses, streets, and businesses. In South Korea, bird decorations like paper cranes are hung up for longevity and good fortune. In Tibet, children bring gifts to their elders, and in Mongolia, a pastry tower is made to represent Mount Sumeru (a holy mountain). Many people with Asian heritage living in other parts of the world still participate in the Lunar celebrations.

Lunar New Year is a time to look towards a new year and good fortune but there are also plenty of superstitions around this time. In preparation, people will “sweep out” the misfortune of the old year from their home and hang up poems on red paper (couplets) for good luck and prosperity. It is widely believed you should avoid any washing or sweeping on the New Year to avoid “washing” the good fortune away, to avoid unlucky words like “illness” or crying, and to avoid colors associated with mourning such as black and white. Door Gods (mén shén) are hung up in entranceways facing each other to ward off evil spirits. Red is known as a lucky color and symbolizes happiness, prosperity, luck, and good fortune, and appears on envelopes, clothing, lanterns, and decorations especially during this time.

Thoughts: Our celebration of Lunar New Year was derailed by a major thunderstorm that repeatedly knocked out the power. We did not want to risk a power surge on our new air fryer and decided to go to the local Chinese buffet instead. The power was back on when we arrived, and I anticipated the egg rolls and pork dumplings. To my dismay they had no dumplings, and the egg rolls were soggy. The power flickered several more times before finally going out completely. Several local police had also come for the buffet, and they turned on their flashlights and placed them around the restaurant so we could see to eat. We left paying cash to the delight of the cashier (register was out). Although the food did not rival the dim sum I experienced in the Bay Area, it was memorable. I hope this inauspicious start will lead to a good year. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Holla Bend

January 27, 2025

The intense cold (highs below freezing) that has stricken most of the south began to lessen over the weekend and Melissa thought it a good time to get out of the house with the kids for a drive. While the motivation was to “just go”, we also wanted to see a birding site. The Sequoya Wildlife Refuge is only about 90 minutes west, but we have not had much luck finding birds in the winter. Lake Fort Smith is an hour north and has good fishing in the cove, but we have never caught much from the shore. I put in a little work while Melissa searched for a new birding site. What she found was about 2 hours away near where she spent her college years. This sounded like a possibility (and promised a trip to her favorite burger joint). We packed up the kids, got gas and aired up the tires that had been deflated by the cold, and took off for Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge.

When I looked online, I found Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,055-acre (28.6 km²) site located 5 miles (8 km) south-east of Dardanelle, Arkansas. The refuge is bounded on one side by the Arkansas River and on its others by an oxbow lake that was formed in 1954 by the Army Corps of Engineers during efforts to straighten the river navigation channel. The resulting island was transferred to the US Department of the Interior in 1957 for a wildlife refuge. The refuge provides habitat for migratory waterfowl, indigenous endangered species, other resident wildlife, and offers interpretation and recreation to the public. The area is a year-round sanctuary for the 236 species of birds, tree frogs, and the American alligator. Migratory fowl following the Central and Mississippi flyways stay in the refuge during the winter months, including 14 species of ducks and 4 kinds of geese, with as many as 100,000 there at once. Winter migratory neotropical songbirds use the refuge as a rest stop during their long journey to and from Central and South America and during the spring and summer migratory birds use the refuge for breeding and nesting. I anticipated birds.

Last year I purchased an Interagency Lifetime Pass from the US National Park Service so we cruised past the Holla Bend information center without stopping. We turned around realizing we did not know where we were going without a flyer. As we got into the refuge, we saw large flocks of American Robin (Turdus migratorius) on the road between the trees and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) passing among the harvested grain fields. Along the oxbow we found a flock of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and a flock of ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) along the river. The best find however, was totally unexpected. We stopped to admire a herd of 20 does and fawns racing across the far end of a harvested field. Then I noticed what I thought was a group of black vultures (Coragyps atratus) about 300 yards (274 m) out. When I focused my camera, I realized this was a flock of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) feeding in the field. It turned out to be a great day. And we topped it with a great burger.

Thoughts: When we stopped at the Holla Bend information office a sign listed the daily hours along with the caveat of “Closed when we are not here”. They were not there. The Wildlife Refuge System is the US’s largest network of lands and waters dedicated to wildlife conservation, but it is facing a staffing crisis. The Refuge System has lost over 800 permanent positions since fiscal year 2011, resulting in a 27% loss in capacity. No national wildlife refuge is fully staffed, and more than half have zero staff on-site. Much of the system is unprotected due to the lack of law enforcement officers. This shortage impacts critical volunteers by a lack of staff supervision or infrastructure. We need to invest in this system and prioritize staffing to ensure the future of this network and the wildlife it protects. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Traction

January 14, 2025

Yesterday I decided it was time to get out into the weather and take the kids for a walk. I decided to go to the lake as it was more open and had a better probability for the parking lot to be cleared by road crews. The temperatures in the morning were below freezing (-0C) but were set to warm up to 40F (4.5C) by the afternoon. I did have two concerns. The first was the possibility for windchill which would negate any increase in temperature. I decided to dress for the cold. That meant a pair of long johns under my sweatpants. Then a tee shirt, a long sleeve undershirt, and a long-sleeved thermal undershirt. I topped this off with a light ski jacket. The first concern was covered. The second concern was the potential for ice and snow on the spits we walk at the lake. The kids have been romping in the snow in the side yard, and I knew this would not be their concern. That is different for me and was my reason to shovel over the weekend. Melissa was a runner when we met and one of her first Christmas presents was cold weather gear for running in Kansas. That meant running gloves, hand and foot warmers, and a set of spikes in a rubber harness. The spikes were billed as “everyday traction aids”. The spikes should provide the traction I needed to walk the kids.

When I looked online, I found Merriam-Webster defines traction in several ways. The first definition (and applicable for me) is “the adhesive friction of a body on a surface on which it moves”. A variation of this meaning says traction can refer to “a pulling force exerted on a skeletal structure (as in a fracture) by means of a special device” (splint). A second definition is “the force exerted in the act of drawing or being drawn”. The third meaning took a different approach with “the support or interest that is needed for something to make progress or succeed”. This indicates something “gains traction” as people begin to accept and/or adopt an idea or methodology. Finally, traction refers to “the drawing of a vehicle by motive power”. Here a tractor is something that pulls something else. This is often a piece of farm machinery or the part of a big truck that includes the engine and the cab. The word tractor comes from the Medieval Latin “traction”, or from the Latin “trahere”. The first known use of traction in English occurred in 1608, in the meaning defined by the second sense.

I was intrigued by the spikes guarantee to provide traction as I walked the kids. After I bought them, Melissa had never had an occasion to use them. They sat (in the original package) in my closet along with our shoes for 15 years. When we pulled into the lake for our walk, I found the parking lot was generally clear of ice and snow. Even the roads leading out to the end of the spits were clear, even though the grass on either side was snow covered. I left the traction spikes (still in their packaging) in the car and started on our hike. The temperature was higher than forecast at 45F (7C) and my decision to bundle against the cold seemed unnecessary. Neither of my concerns were warranted. I was toasty in my layers and the snow and ice were gone. However, I was not anticipating the mud. The ground was mostly frozen, but my four-wheeler buddies had been taking laps in the snow and over the roads. As we walked the spits, Loki’s legs and underbelly quickly became covered in mud. We took most of our laps circling the parking lot. Luckily there was enough snow on the grass to wash Loki off before I let him back into the car.

Thoughts: This was one of the (rare) occasions where I over planned for the cold and loss of traction. Even though I did not need all the extra layers, it was nice to be warm and snug while we walked. The traction aid I bought for Melissa went back into the closet next to my shoes to wait for another day. I do not know if my over planning can be accredited to experience or unwarranted caution as I age. As a Boy Scout our motto was “Be Prepared”. That is still a good motto for hiking, camping, and even for life in general. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Shovel

January 13, 2025

We are now well into recovery from the snowstorm that dumped 9 inches (23 cm) of snow on our town before the weekend. That gave me a day to recoup as I had no intention of getting out in the snow. I did take time Saturday afternoon to shovel the portion of the patio that was being trampled by the kids at play and myself as I stocked the feeders. It was in the 30’sF (0’sC) during the day and I knew if I did not remove the snow, it would become a sheet of ice. That would make it harder to remove and slicker as I walked (it did not seem to bother the kids either way). I always had a snow shovel when I lived in Kansas and used it several times over the winter. The shovel was something I did not bring when we moved to Arkansas. While it usually snows once over the winter, it is rarely deep enough to worry about shoveling. Since we got deep snow, that meant I got to dig out using a square 8-inch (20cm) shovel rather than the 18-inch (46 cm) snow shovel I am used to. If you do the math, you know it took twice as long to shovel my patio than if I had the proper equipment.

When I looked online, I found whether to shovel the snow or not is one of the biggest questions for homeowners. Questions arise about who is responsible, how much you should shovel, and what to do with the snow you shovel. This was a moot point as I began to shovel my patio. The city could care less if I shoveled my back yard or not, but the front yard is a different situation. The news stations all suggested you move your vehicles off the street to allow access for the street crews. They also suggested if you did not move them you may end up buried in the drift the plows create as they scoop the snow onto the easement. I knew I had responsibility for my sidewalk when we lived in Kansas, but we do not have a sidewalk in our cul-de-sac, so I was free from any responsibility there. Like my patio, I knew clearing my drive was more for my personal convenience than for others. What I found online is that the rules and regulations on whether you shovel snow vary from state to state, and some cities, towns, and homeowners’ associations (HOA) have their own rules about how to shovel snow. Like most US states in the south, Arkansas currently has no laws on snow removal.

Knowing it was not my responsibility to shovel snow did not help with maneuvering my driveway and front walk. We had several packages delivered after the snow let up and the mail and delivery people had forced their way through the snow. On Sunday I took on the larger task and prepared to shovel the front of our house. The winds had died down and the temperatures were now comfortably in the high 30’sF (0’sC) so it was ideal weather to shovel. I took my little flat shovel and scooped the snow into my yard on both sides of the sidewalk and driveway. I was glad I decided to shovel when I did because the snow was sitting on an inch (2.5 cm) of slush. The temperatures were predicted to again drop into the low 20’sF (-0’sC) and the slush was going to freeze. This would be compounded by the footsteps that compact the snow and aid in the freezing. When I woke up this morning the snow was completely gone and the cement dry. I am glad I decided to shovel.

Thoughts: As I continued to shovel my driveway, I noticed I was the only one on my cul-de-sac who was doing so. The snow was only on their drives and streets, and once you got out of our subdivision the roads were clear. I was not required to shovel, but I felt better knowing I was protecting myself and any delivery people that might venture onto our property. Every time I shovel snow (Kansas or Arkansas) the same thing happens. As my neighbor struggled to get out of the cul-de-sac, he stopped and jokingly asked if I would shovel his drive next. I declined. While major climate events can be devastating, they seem to bring people together. Surviving a climate event gives humans a sense of camaraderie that may not have been there previously. It would be better to connect prior to an event rather than because of one. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Snowstorm

January 10, 2025

Our first snowstorm of the new year started yesterday and continues this morning. The kids have come a long way since their first snowstorm 2 years ago. Zena had moved tenuously through the flakes giving them their sniff evaluation before finally deciding they were ok to play in. Loki missed that storm, and this was his first real opportunity to snuffle. We let them outside as the flakes were coming down yesterday. Zena immediately went on patrol prancing up and down the perimeter of the fence. Loki was more discriminating. Sensing “something” beneath the inches of snow he began to snuffle and dig. This morning brought on the “zummies”. Both dogs raced through the snow, only stopping long enough to get into a quick fight before getting back to zooming. Since it is below freezing (32F or 0C) I did not keep them outside too long. I also felt obligated to stand and watch to see how they were doing. That probably limited their time, as I get cold fast.

When I looked online, I found the snowstorm that moved through Arkansas overnight dumped nearly 15 inches (38 cm) of snow in some parts of Arkansas, roughly 8 inches (20 cm) across the Little Rock metro area, and 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm) in the areas around my town, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock. We average around 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snow annually. Entergy reported 8,496 customers without power as of 7:30 am, with most outages in southwest Arkansas. The Electric Cooperative of Arkansas reported 5,390 customers without power. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field (east of Little Rock) reported there had been 36 flight cancellations as of 8:30 am Friday. Airlines are challenged by deicing planes in the snowfall, delaying morning departures. Airfield crews worked all night and into the morning to plow and sweep the snow from the main runway, taxiways, and air carrier ramp, airport spokesman Shane Carter said in Friday’s news release. Other parts of north-central Arkansas are expected to receive 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30.5 cm) and Northern Arkansas is forecast for 5 to 7 inches (13 to 18 cm) of snow, and some in the area could get more. We still have flurries expected to last until the afternoon.

Another reason to let the kids out in the snowstorm this morning is the combined group of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), and a few brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) that descended. I do not mind feeding these birds, but when they descend, they quickly devour everything and drive the smaller passerines off by their presence. The blackbirds are skittish and just letting the kids into the yard makes them retreat to the surrounding trees. The smaller birds return despite the kids’ presence. Collectively, blackbirds may be described as a “murder” when they are seen flying together or perched on a tree branch. A “cloud” is a poetic term used as they fly together in formation. A “merle” is an older term used to describe the group as they forage for food on the ground while a “colony” is used to describe a group nesting together. Finally, a “congregation” is used to describe a group of blackbirds gathered in one area. The different names indicate the level of human interest in their various activities.

Thoughts: As the snowstorm winds down, I begin to reflect on getting out. Tad Sours, director of communications for Washington County said, “All that we really ask from the public is if you don’t have to get out in it, don’t . . . give plenty of room to our road crews.” Still, I did not make the pre-snowstorm dash for milk, bread, and toilet paper like most of the area’s residents. Global warming means extremes of both heat and cold, and opposite events at the same time (like a snowstorm and wildfire). Make a difference NOW, not later. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Birds 2024

January 04, 2025

I am a little later than usual, but it is again time to recap my annual birder list. Once more I saw a number of red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) on the power lines going to and from town but this year I was unable to actually get a picture, so they were not added to my count. I was unable to take my usual trip to the wildlife area this year and so missed out on any of the birds I might have seen there. The end of year presence on my feeders was good as the cold weather brought the small Passerines (sparrows and finches), although the larger birds (cardinals and jays) were mostly absent. I cleaned out the bluebird (Sialia sialis) house last week. One of the squirrels who frequent the feeders has taken to gnawing on the entrance, so I opened it to check if everything was ok. It was fine but I cleaned the nest and debris in preparation for the next nesting season. BTW: for those who read last week’s blog (Gaggle) a group of squirrels is called a “dray” or a “scurry”.

All that said leads up to the “great reveal” concerning my birder totals for 2024. You may recall I recorded 26 species in my first year (2020). I got off to a great start in 2021 with 29 species by the end of January and a total of 52 species for the year. During 2022 the sightings were slower, with 44 different species, not counting the six European sightings (50 total?). During 2023 I recorded my lowest number of sightings since my first year, with only 30 species. During 2024 the numbers rose slightly to 39 documented species. Building a fence in the side yard helped as the kids no longer play near the feeders and the birds feel free to come and go more frequently. Still, early morning and early evening are the best times to watch. We also added three new feeders that attach to the glass on the bay window next to where Melissa works. This allows her to watch as the American gold finch (Spinus tristis) and Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) as they battle for feeding rights.

As I pulled onto the entrance road to the lake to take the kids for a walk yesterday, I caught sight of a large bird perched in the trees. I drove by as the bird turned and flashed the unmistakable white head of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I slowed and then pulled over as soon as I (no shoulders). I walked back the 1/4 mile (400m) scanning the trees and hoping to be able to get a photo for my birding list. Unfortunately, the eagle had moved on and was now out of sight. When we began our walk out onto the first spit of land, I heard the call of a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). I scanned the trees along the road and caught sight of the bird high among the branches. I pulled out my phone to take a photo but again, by that time the bird was gone. That made two birds I usually only see a couple of times a year and I had missed documenting them both. These were part of the many birds I have seen but not photographed over my last five years of birding. The official Cornell Lab of Ornithology bird list guide does not require documentation with a photo to count as a sighting, although that has been my criteria. Perhaps I should rethink.

THOUGHTS: I acquired several new feeders (now 13, plus 9 hummingbird feeders) during 2024. Melissa asked about the cost as she watched me buying seeds and filling the feeders on a daily basis. I tend to buy seeds in bulk, and I only have to restock two or three times a year. Watching the birds (and squirrels) gives us both pleasure. Like my garden and Melissa’s succulents, the expense to feed the birds is well spent. Be sure to mark your calendars for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2025 (February 14 to February 17, 2025). As I mentioned last year, birds are the (literal) canary in the mine shaft (earth) when it comes to gauging the health of our ecosystems. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.