Storms, Flooding, and Migration

"There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You have to deal with each one separately, but you need to keep an eye on whats brewing for tomorrow."

― Maria Snyder

 

Part I: Migration Update 

This past weekend's birding added two new wood warblers to my year list: Northern Waterthrush and Pine Warbler. The recent wave of migration also brought first-of-season sightings of Henslow's Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Broad-winged Hawk.

 

NEXRAD showed solid migration during the night on the 17th ...

But the next night, a massive cold front came in and kept migrating birds to the south and east ...

Again, the overlapping wind map ...

Part II: Storms

 

On Friday, this particular system rendered severe thunderstorms that spawned dozens of tornadoes and large hail ...

This is some of the largest hail I've ever seen. Although we have underground parking where I live, vehicles left in the outdoor lots were peppered with dents. Strong winds downed a few trees in my neighborhood. Ringle (Marathon County) was hit the hardest with an EF3 tornado, destroying or damaging several homes. Fortunately, nobody was severely injured or killed. 

 

Part III: Sauk County Bound 

The Wisconsin River was already running high, but the storms pushed it into dramatic flooding. These photos were taken at the Sauk City Canoe Launch—one of my favorite tiger beetle haunts. It remains to be seen whether any of the beetles will endure the flooding or return to the site once the waters recede.

Next up, Devil's Lake State Park ...

Our hike along Grottos Trail yielded little bird activity—just a Winter Wren and several woodpecker species—though the trail never fails to deliver its breathtaking view of the East Bluff. Despite the natural beauty, this particular path always stirs darker memories: I can't help but recall the tragic murder of John Craig Schmutzer, who was stabbed to death here on October 14th, 2020. The case remains unsolved. Devil's Lake has a body count, but most are from climbing accidents and drownings. 

Sue and I had never been to the park's Nature Center. Situated on the North Shore, functioning as the primary hub for the park's exhibits, naturalist programs, and visitor resources. It features animal and geology displays, hands-on natural history specimens, and historic photographs. I couldn't help notice an error on this Black-throated Green Warbler display, but didn't have the heart to tell them.

There were Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) in bloom near the park's main entrance ...

It's a fascinating wildflower native to eastern North America, distinguished by its unique shape that resembles upside-down pantaloons, which have evolved for specialized pollination by bumblebees capable of forcing them open. As a spring ephemeral, it employs a clever phenological strategy, completing its entire above-ground life cycle quickly before the forest canopy leafs out and blocks sunlight, relying on a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi to efficiently absorb nutrients during this brief period. 

All parts of the plant contain toxic psychoactive compounds, including apomorphine, protoberberine, and protopine. While cattle typically avoid it, ingestion can lead to a neurological condition known as "cerebral cortical necrosis" or "craze seizures," earning the plant the rancher's nickname 'Staggerweed.' This toxic nature stood in stark contrast to the delicate image held by some of its admirers; allegedly, Victorian wildflower enthusiasts were not amused by the common name "breeches," particularly because they were aware that the singular form "breech" referred to the buttocks.

We concluded our weekend adventure by checking for Birdsfoot Violets (Viola pedata) at Spring Green Preserve, where it proved abundant.

This wildflower is host to the eggs and caterpillars of the Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia), which is an endangered butterfly in Wisconsin.

The cooler temperatures had me thinking the sandy trail would be devoid of tiger beetles, but we spotted one lone Festive Tiger Beetle soaking up the sun.

Just two Lark Sparrows were found, but a lot more are on the way.

In fact, a lot more of everything is on the way!

 

All images © 2026 Mike McDowell

Shameful: H.J.Res.140

"This joint resolution nullifies Public Land Order 7917, which withdrew approximately 225,504 acres of National Forest System lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota, from mineral and geothermal leasing for 20 years. In 2023, the Bureau of Land Management issued the order to protect and preserve the Rainy River Watershed, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area, and the 1854 Ceded Territory of the Lake Superior Chippewa from the potential adverse effects of mineral and geothermal exploration and development. The joint resolution removes such protections and allows such land to be leased for the exploration and development of minerals and geothermal energy." 

Vance vs. Pope

"Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated Holocaust camps and liberated those, those innocent people, you know, those who had survived the Holocaust? I certainly think the answer is yes ... but I think one of the issues here is that if you're going to opine on matters of theology, you've got to be careful. You've got to make sure it's anchored in the truth, and that's one of the things that I try to do, and it's certainly something I would expect from the clergy, whether they’re Catholic or Protestant."

— J.D. Vance

"I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."

— Stephen F. Roberts

From an intellectually honest, evidence-based perspective, we don't know whether any god or gods exist. Because of that, any claim about which "side" god supports in a geopolitical conflict is ultimately speculative. Both Pope Leo and J. D. Vance are making confident assertions about divine alignment based on their own interpretations of theology and history, but neither has a verifiable way to substantiate those claims.

The Pope's statement that Jesus "is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs" reflects a particular theological viewpoint rather than an empirically provable fact. Likewise, Vance's claim that god was on the side of Americans during World War II is his own interpretive conclusion, though very likely shared by many Americans. But just because many people believe something doesn't make it true.

During WWII, German soldiers certainly thought "Gott Mit Uns" (god is with us):

In this sense, though, both are attributing positions to god that align with their broader moral, political, or theological frameworks. The exchange highlights how religious language can be used to frame and legitimize political arguments, even when those claims about divine intent cannot be independently verified.

Since no one has the slightest evidence of divine intervention in history, both are merely ventriloquizing for a silent heaven. One baptizes pacifism, the other nationalism, and each calls it theology.

Back to birding and insecting ...

Migration Notes!

"Some people are very competitive in their birding. Maybe they'll die happy, having seen a thousand species before they die, but I'll die happy knowing I've spent all that quiet time being present."

― Lynn Thomson

 

Part I: Migration Update

On Sunday, Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor was alive with Yellow-rumped Warblers. These hardy wood warblers—often the first to arrive in spring migration and the last to depart in fall—seemed to be everywhere, flitting among the budding branches and darting out in aerial sallies to catch emerging insects (mostly midge flies). Common, but still gorgeous.

I'm at 4 warbler species so far this spring:

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Louisiana Waterthrush

Palm Warbler

 

Take a look NEXRAD from early Sunday morning ...

And the wind ...

The overlapping pattern of wind direction and birds aloft. 

 

Migratory birds almost always wait for a tailwind—they can boost speed, conserve energy, and increase survival during migration. Checking NEXRAD radar first thing in the morning provides a preview of what the day's birding might hold. Radar images can reveal large concentrations of migrating  birds, giving birders a heads-up about potential fallouts or heavy migration activity. By checking radar, you can anticipate whether you'll encounter a significant movement of birds or a quieter day in the field.

Having said that, radar conditions don't always translate to uniform bird distribution across all locations. A night with heavy migration might show impressive radar returns, yet specific hotspots can remain surprisingly quiet. This has happened more times than I can recall. The reality is that birds concentrate in favorable habitats, and without local intelligence, you might miss the action entirely. 

 

Here's a nice trail to bird ...

A scenic section of Military Ridge State Trail I cross on my way to work every morning. I'll typically find 20 to 30 species in just 20 minutes. This is where I found an Orange-crowned Warbler this morning, and my first-of-spring Red-headed Woodpecker and Brown Thrasher.

 

Part II: Vesper Sparrows

On the outskirts of Sauk City, I spent some time photographing Vesper Sparrows at a dead-end road near old tiger beetle haunt. While development has since claimed most of the beetle habitat, the sparrows endure (for now). Despite the hurdles of a stiff wind and cloud-filtered light, my digiscoping efforts were rewarded by the their persistent songs rising from the ground and trees.

Perhaps 3 or 4 singing males were present.

A nifty looking sparrow with an incredibly melodious song.

The wind rendered that do!

Part III: Stuff at Baxter's Hollow

A storm was closing in from the west, but we had just enough time to check Baxter's Hollow. As expected, the Louisiana Waterthrushes had returned. I heard two of them counter-singing along Otter Creek, though they remained at too great a distance to photograph. A nearby lightening strike sent us scrambling back to the car, then the sky unleashed its fury was we drove out of the woods.

Round-lobed Hepatica—there was a lot more this time.

Marsh Marigolds were open ...

Skunk Cabbage! The spathe is the colorful bract or leaf-like structure that encloses the spadix (flower cluster) or inflorescence. It's essentially a protective sheath that can be mistaken for a petal but is botanically distinct. 

The spadix, on the other hand, the actual flower cluster itself—a fleshy, spike-like structure covered in numerous tiny flowers. It sits within or emerges from the spathe. The spathe serves to protect the developing spadix and often acts as a visual attractant for pollinators. In some species like skunk cabbage, the spathe can even generate enough heat to melt through snow.

There's something comical about Wood frogs. It's one of the first amphibians to stir in spring, often emerging while snow still blankets the ground. They gather in temporary woodland pools to breed, their quack-like call echoing throughout the hollow.

All images © 2026 Mike McDowell

Who is Rhode? An AI Lesson!

"AI is not just about replicating human intelligence; it’s about creating intelligent systems that can surpass human limitations."

 

— Yann LeCun

AI is handy for finding information, though I never take its word as final. Recently, while researching the Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle subspecies Cicindela hirticollis rhodensis, I encountered something a bit concerning. It all started when I saw the common name 'Rhode’s Tiger Beetle' on the Wisconsin DNR website:

I've always called it the 'rhodensis subspecies' of Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle, but 'Rhode's' made it seem like it might be named for a person. Googling further, I found the subspecies on Minnesota DNR's website as 'Rhode Island' Tiger Beetle:

Interesting ... so was it for someone named Rhode or for the eastern US state?

 

While David Pearson's tiger beetle field guide shows the scientific name described by Edwin E. Calder, I thought to run this by Venice.AI. It responded that the subspecies name honored a 'Charles Rhode.' Given how frequently taxonomic names are eponyms, this seemed entirely plausible — especially since the USFWS website also lists the subspecies as 'Rhode's Tiger Beetle'.

I wanted to learn more about Charles Rhode, but grew suspicious of the attribution when my searches yielded no information about him in the context of tiger beetles. Googling more, I finally located Calder's original 1916 journal description from the New York Entomological Society. He indicated that the beetle was first found in 1903 by entomologist C. Abbott Davis on "sandy beaches along the Atlantic Coast from Point Judith to Narragansett Pier, R.I.":

See that?

The mystery was finally solved: the name rhodensis is actually a geographic reference to Rhode Island, rather than an eponym honoring a person. It seems likely that both the Wisconsin DNR and USFWS fell into a similar naming assumption. 

But here's the really bad part of this saga ...

When I presented my findings to Venice.AI, it admitted to fabricating the narrative about Charles Rhode:

This interaction serves as a clear case study demonstrating that AI outputs must be fact-checked. I generated a plausible-sounding but entirely false narrative regarding the origin of the name rhodensis. This error was only uncovered because the user independently located the primary source material, which directly contradicted my fabricated information. The AI's tendency to infer and create a coherent story, even when specific data is absent, led to the propagation of misinformation. Without the user's critical verification, the incorrect information would have stood.

 

Wow.

 

Being wrong is one thing, but fabricating a narrative? 

 

As far as the common names go, both appear to be in use. While using 'Rhode's' and 'Rhode Island' doesn't alter the scientific nomenclature, I think it's better use the name that accurately reflects the historical and geographic context.

Rhode Island Tiger Beetle it is.

But shame on Venice.AI!

 

Rhode Island Tiger Beetle © 2026 Mike McDowell