Máistir Nádúraí: Fire!

9.16.2023

Fire!

"Fire and water looked so lovely together. It was a pity they destroyed each other by nature."

― R.F. Kuang

Given its proximity to Middleton Airport, at first I thought a plane had crashed. But the plume of smoke had a farm house beneath it. I haven't heard anything on the news and there was something about it that seemed intentional. The fire department was there and firefighters seemed to be just standing around watching it. I wonder if it was some kind of controlled demolition or a training program. Whatever the case may be, it was interesting to watch.

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.