"Nature is not benevolent; Nature is just, gives pound for pound, measure for measure, makes no exceptions, never tempers her decrees with mercy, or winks at any infringement of her laws. And in the end is not this best? Could the universe be run as a charity or a benevolent institution, or as a poor-house of the most approved pattern? Without this merciless justice, this irrefragable law, where should we have brought up long ago? It is a hard gospel; but rocks are hard too, yet they form the foundations of the hills."
— John Burroughs
Welcome to June!
I heard my first Spiza americana of the year this morning at Barneveld Prairie. We've had a tremendous amount of rain lately and I haven't been venturing out quite as much for this time of year. The Wisconsin River is so high right now that many of my tiger beetle beach haunts are presently underwater. Punctured Tiger Beetles should have emerged by now, and that species is commonly found on higher ground — I'll probably go looking for them this coming weekend. It's a little early for Ghost Tiger Beetles yet, but I look forward to finding them in Sauk County in a few weeks.
While more of my outdoor time will be spent insecting for the remainder of spring and summer, visits to prairies will still include observing the Aves. The late spring season is also perfect for continuing the search for wildflowers, especially orchids — these were all found late May, though:
I know where to find them. But it's crucial to keep the locations of orchids confidential. People sometimes try to dig them up for their backyard gardens, not realizing that orchids need specific soil compositions and environments to survive. Sadly, many of these transplanted orchids don't make it, as backyard conditions are usually not suitable. Conservation efforts stress the importance of leaving orchids in their natural habitats. By keeping their locations confidential and promoting responsible observation and documentation, we can help ensure these beautiful flowers continue to thrive in their natural environments for generations to come.
So, above we have:
- Galearis spectabilis
- Cypripedium acaule
- Cypripedium parviflorum
Thus, sending a fond farewell to the month of May. It wasn't as good as many, but it was certainly better than some stinkers I can recall. Springs are kind of like debits and credits — you bank them to your memory, but then there's always one less to experience. How fortunate to have had so many, but how many more do I get to have and share with my friends? Part of the benefit of writing a blog like this is I have the ability to look back and compare how things once were compared to the present — refresh my failing memory, too. But it's also the case that my understanding and appreciation as a field naturalist has improved over the decades — some skills diminish and others improve with age. I can be selective and there remains virtually no end to how far one can immerse oneself in Nature appreciation.
Closing with a rather thickly maculated Festive Tiger Beetle ...
P.S. Did you uninstall Merlin yet? :)
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell