Thoughts on Therapy Dogs

While I have long admired those who train dogs to assist persons with congenital or acquired disabilities, I must admit to some skepticism when it comes to the current explosion of "therapy dogs" in American society.

No doubt, certain individuals with severe social anxiety might benefit from having a calm dog at their side but airports, hotels, restaurants, gyms and other human gathering sites are now awash with these canines; indeed, they must be admitted by these establishments due to anti-discrimination laws.  On a recent visit to Denver International Airport, I saw dozens of therapy dogs (usually identified by a colorful vest), paraded down the concourse by their seemingly confident owners.

Just as happens with many other forms of medical and psychological treatment, the use of therapy dogs has become a cultural fad.  How many of these owners truly need a pooch at their side?  It is difficult to know for certain but I suspect, in many cases, the benefit extends well beyond the dog's calming effect. 

A Morning at Lido Key Beach

Lido Key Beach, off Sarasota, is one of the best locations along the west coast of Florida for birding, wildlife watching, shelling and walking.  Also popular for social gatherings, it can be a bit crowded on weekends.

On this sunny, warm morning, we walked the beach, my wife shelling while I, of course, surveyed the birdlife.  The usual mix of seabirds and shorebirds were observed but black-bellied plovers were especially abundant.  I counted 120 individuals, resting in flocks on the sand or hunting along the shoreline; these travelers were in various stages of molting to their attractive breeding plumage and will soon depart for the Arctic tundra.

My northern gannet watch continues without success during this visit to South Florida.  While the white adults have headed to breeding colonies in the North Atlantic, dark-brown juveniles often remain on wintering waters throughout the year.  Since they tend to stay well offshore, they are identified by their size, shape, flight pattern and their spectacular vertical dives for fish.  Alas, no sightings yet. 

A Pioneer Mangrove

As barrier islands along South Florida's Coast have been developed, large swaths of mangrove have been destroyed.  This has been unfortunate due to their important role in coast stabilization, habitat for sea bird rookeries, the protection of marine fisheries and, most recently, carbon capture.

At our condo development on Longboat Key, which dates from the late 1960s, coastal mangroves were destroyed though offshore mangrove islands remain intact along the margin of Sarasota Bay.  A few years ago, we noticed that a solitary red mangrove (photo) was growing in a rock pile along our sea wall; left alone, it has steadily grown and would spread if it were not at the edge of the boat channel (which will surely be kept open).

Mangroves spread by various propagules, including seeds, buds, roots and stem segments that float to nearby shallows and give rise to new growth.  Hopefully, the condo maintenance team will respect this pioneer plant and allow it to adorn the sea wall for many years to come.

A Birder's Church

Early on this beautiful Sunday morning in South Florida, we drove up to Leffis Key, one of the most popular and "productive" birding locations in Manatee County.  During our brief visit, the birding was fair but everyone we encountered was birding.

One might say it was a birding church, where members congregate to observe, respect and appreciate the natural world.  After all, most avid birders are naturalists and are thus devoted to naturalist philosophy.  Whether one believes in a God or not, what better way to acknowledge the wonders of life than to immerse ourselves in natural ecosystems.

Many humans choose to connect through public piety, finding solace in song, prayer and ritual.  Some of us are more inclined to find our common purpose in the beauty, diversity and welfare of nature. 

An Unexpected Visitor

Walking along the beach this morning, I encountered the usual mix of shorebirds and seabirds that inhabit or frequent Longboat Key.  Joining them was one unexpected visitor.

A barn swallow, more associated with open farm country, was skimming the dunes, searching for insects.  Of course, this traveler (like myself) is but a transient visitor to the barrier island, far more comfortable in terrestrial ecosystems.

Having wintered in Central or South America, barn swallows are common summer residents throughout most of North America; a circumpolar species, they also nest in Europe and Asia.  Well adapted to rural human communities, especially those near lakes and wetlands, barn swallows nest primarily beneath the eaves of buildings or under bridges.  This morning's traveler was the first I have seen this spring. 

Semi-Palmated Plovers

Among the thousands of shorebirds and seabirds at Whitney Beach (on Longboat Key) this morning, there were two semi-palmated plovers, at opposite ends of the strand.  I thus felt obliged to acknowledge their presence in a blog post.

Though more often seen in flocks during migration, this morning's loners are on their way to northern Canada or Alaska, where they breed.  Unlike many of their cousins, semi-palmated plovers prefer to nest and feed on graveled islands and sandbars in meandering Arctic rivers; their diet consists of insects, worms and other invertebrates.

These plovers winter along the coasts of North and South America; they migrate a bit later in spring than most shorebirds and may still be encountered in the American Heartland through early May.  Perhaps our paths will cross again. 

Gulf Coast Storm

A potent spring storm has been crawling eastward along the northern Gulf Coast over the past few days, producing severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, torrential rains and coastal flooding.  This morning, the heart of the system is in northern Florida and its trailing cold front is approaching the west coast of the Florida Peninsula.

A tornado watch has been issued for areas north of Tampa Bay and we expect thunderstorms to reach Longboat Key by early afternoon.  This morning, we enjoyed a short walk on the beach, buffeted by strong south winds ahead of the cold front.  Despite the rough surf, sanderlings raced ahead of the incoming waves, ruddy turnstones and willets scoured the wind-swept beach and a mixed squadron of brown pelicans, cormorants, gulls and terns fished on the roiling Gulf waters.

Attentive to weather warnings, we humans appropriately head for shelter until the storm passes.  Wildlife, always in survival mode, adapt to the changing conditions but remain active as long as possible; their lives depend on that resilience. 

Evening Bay Watch

Granted a calm, warm evening along Sarasota Bay, I opted for an hour of birdwatching.  Though the absolute number of sightings was relatively low, it was more than worth my time.

Sitting at the edge of the seawall, my attention first turned to a little blue heron, hunting in a swath of grass.  Fish crows noisily called from the nearby rooftops while a pair of magnificent frigatebirds soared silently above the bay.  Brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, white ibis and red-breasted mergansers were the most abundant visitors but I also encountered small numbers of least and royal terns, yellow-crowned night herons, great egrets, tricolored herons and roseate spoonbills.

Just before returning to our condo,  I watched five manatees glide along the seawall, their rotund figures barely visible in the fading light.  More from Longboat Key in the coming days.

Closer to Home

While many of us prefer the mountains to the sea and though our own species evolved in the semi-arid Rift Valley of Africa, the sea is the homeland of all life, first appearing in her waters some 3.6 billion years ago.  Indeed, life was limited to the sea until about 440 million years ago, when the first terrestrial plants and animals began to inhabit the tidal flats.

Today, many humans live far from the sea and some never visit it during their lives.  Nevertheless, she is the Mother of all life and her realm is our homeland.  Perhaps it is our subconscious awareness of this fact that makes beach vacations and sea cruises so popular.

So, for the next two weeks, I am closer to home, one that I share with every person, mountain goat, cactus and earthworm on our Planet.  Sadly, we humans keep trashing it. 

Flashback Post LI

As millions of Americans gather to witness the total solar eclipse today, we are in South Florida, well southeast of its geographic path.  I have thus decided to relive and republish my eclipse experience from August of 2017.

See: Totality! 

Birding at 70 MPH

Birders who reside in or visit Florida know that many of the State's avian species, especially the larger ones, can be seen from a moving vehicle, even while traveling on the Interstates.  While not an ideal form of birding, it does help to pass the time when road trips are necessary.

Cattle egrets and sandhill cranes are often observed on the open fields and pastures while ospreys, bald eagles and vultures (both turkey and black) frequently soar overhead.  Ibis, wood storks, anhingas, roseate spoonbills, egrets and a variety of herons tend to cross your path and swallow-tailed kites may be observed strafing the roadside treetops.  Should your drive be close to the sea or large bays, you might also encounter brown pelicans, cormorants, magnificent frigatebirds and a host of gulls and terns.

I suppose it is best to keep your eyes on the road (and, for the record, I officially recommend it) but, as an avid birder for almost fifty years, I know that we reflexively identify any passing, airborne image. 

New Jersey's Earthquake

The Magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, on April 5, was caused by a rather shallow, intra-plate slip along an old fault.  Though not uncommon in the Eastern and Central U.S., any quake not along the Pacific Coast garners significant attention.

Indeed, major earthquakes in North America generally occur along the Continent's Pacific edge where remnants of the Farallon Plate are subducting beneath the North American Plate or (in Southern California) where the Pacific Plate is sliding past the North American Plate.  The North American Plate, itself, is forming along the mid-Atlantic Ridge and is thus creeping westward; the Eastern Coast of the U.S. is a Passive Margin, defined primarily by the level of the sea.

Nevertheless, old fractures, faults and sutures remain beneath that region, having formed when the Appalachians rose or when our Continent formed from smaller fragments of crust.  When pressure builds, likely from geologic events along the Pacific Coast, these old joints may slip or rupture, producing an earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks.

   

The Appeal of Rolling Terrain

Following several days in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it was a pleasure to travel south across the rolling terrain of Georgia's east-central Piedmont.  While I love to spend time in mountainous regions, driving through such geography can be a challenge.

More open, hilly terrain offers broader views and straighter roadways.  One can anticipate curves at a distance while also appreciating the lay of the land.  For those of us attuned to hydrology, we can more easily note the flow of the streams and rivers that we cross, "putting together" the overall landscape as we travel through it.  Of course, the scenic farmlands, woodlands and wetlands add to one's enjoyment of such regions and serve to complete the natural puzzle through which we move.

Flat desert landscapes, extensive plains and mountain corridors are both beautiful and fascinating; however, if I must drive, I'll choose to cover rolling terrain.  Tomorrow we'll leave the Piedmont and drop onto the flat Coastal Plain as we head for South Florida.  

A Walk on the A.T.

Since we are spending two days in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, we decided to take a hike on the Appalachian Trail.  Though we never managed to hike the entire route of the A.T., we have covered sections in several States over the years.

Our morning hike was from Woody Gap, on Route 60, to Preacher's Rock, a distance of just over 1 mile with an elevation gain of 460 feet.  From the large rock outcrop (elevation 3600 feet), one enjoys a broad view to the south (see photo).

It is always an honor to hike on that famous trail but one soon realizes that many others seek the opportunity as well.  While the trail itself was not congested, the parking lot was nearly full and we were joined by several groups atop the Rock.  The Appalachian Trail is not recommended for those seeking solitude (especially in popular day-hike areas). 

Along the Plateau's Edge

Chattanooga, Tennessee, spreads along and across the Tennessee River Valley.  Just west of that city, the high wall of the Appalachian Plateau marks the west edge of the Valley, where the River itself begins to wind through the Plateau's forested expanse.

It was along this abrupt change in topography that we visited two State nature preserves yesterday afternoon.  After winding up the steep edge of the Plateau and then zigzagging through attractive, upscale neighborhoods atop Signal Mountain, we finally located the Falling Waters Falls State Nature Sanctuary, where a short trail leads to the Creek's spectacular waterfall.  Unfortunately, low water in the creek diminished the falls but, from its crest, we enjoyed a broad view of the rock-rimmed valley below.

Even more scenic was our hike through the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge, a few miles farther north along the Plateau's edge.  There we followed the Creek upstream, passing and climbing atop massive slump blocks that have eroded from the cliffs to produce a ribbon of pools, riffles and rapids along the course of the beautiful, clear stream (see photo).  More from the Appalachians over the next few days.

   

The Impulse to Write

We writers need to write, just as runners need to run and musicians need to play.  It is a psychologic, if not emotional, impulse.

Those whose job requires daily essays likely find that their work fulfills that need, though many end up writing novels, nonfiction tomes or autobiographies as well.  Others, especially those who have signed agreements with publishers, are required to produce.  Then there are the rest of us.

Blogging fulfills my need to write but, as many bloggers find, subject matter does not always arrive on schedule.  Since we are generally unpaid scribes, we are not under the gun to publish our reports or opinions.  Nevertheless, the urge persists and we end up writing more than we release.  Indeed, bloggers may have a number of drafts waiting to be finished and published; many never see the light of day and are discarded.  Non-writers may feel this is a waste of time and effort but writers know better; we must satisfy a basic need.

See also:  The Therapeutic Nature of Writing 

Homesick Visitors

The homesick tune of white-throated sparrows is ringing through the neighborhood these days.  Pining for their Canadian homeland, they will head north by mid April, escaping the uncomfortable heat and humidity of a Midwestern spring.

In concert, large flocks of dark-eyed juncos are forming, preparing to move northward as well.  Their winter vacation at this "southern latitude" is also coming to an end and they will depart for Canada in the coming weeks.

In the wake of this seasonal departure, spring migrants and summer residents will arrive from the south, taking over the insect and weed control duties of our Canadian winter visitors.  I thank them for their service and wish all of them safe travels. 

Flashback Post L

On this Christian celebration of rebirth, I have decided to resurrect a post from March of 2008. 

See: Immortality 

A Field of Plovers

Arriving at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area early this morning, I encountered a field full of shorebirds.  Numbering about 450 individuals, they were American golden-plovers, on their way to the Arctic tundra.

Among the long-distance migrants of the bird world, these travelers breed across the northernmost fringe of North America and "winter" in southern South America, enjoying long, summer days in both locations.  Most migrate southward over the Atlantic Ocean, flying direct to northern South America from Eastern Canada; during the spring migration, however, they move northward through the American Heartland, stopping to rest and feed on plowed fields or shortgrass prairie.

This avian spectacle was certainly the highlight of my visit to the Missouri River floodplain.  Other sightings included bald eagles, a river otter, American white pelicans, thousands of ducks and a lone short-eared owl (the first I have seen this year and soon to head north as well). 

Redbud Days

Redbud trees bloom across the American Midwest in late March and early April, offering patches of color in woodlands that have not yet recovered from their winter slumber.  The purple-pink flowers also contrast with the damp, gray weather that characterizes this period.

Members of the legume family, their early spring glory comes with a price.  Before long, abundant seed pods will festoon these small trees, releasing countless kernels of life that clog our gardens and flower beds with saplings.

Yet, we allow some of the offspring to grow, knowing that next spring, when we need them the most, their beauty will lift our spirits and restore our faith in nature's cycle of life.

See also: Bean Trees