They're back!
Ha! Bait and Switch ...
Did you check out that zoomable Tree of Life? It's fascinating, even if you're not a biology nerd. Anyway, apologies for the censored f-bomb, but that kind of thing really gets under my skin. Actually, the aforementioned Pennock book wasn't my first dive into the realm of creation myths. That honor goes to Scientists Confront Creationism (1983), edited by Laurie R. Godfrey. It featured an essay by the late Stephen Jay Gould—my first introduction to his science writing. I was hooked. I read all of his books, including his mammoth The Structure of Evolutionary Theory (2002), a 1,400-plus-page cinderblock of a book. I'm certainly not an expert on the hard science, but for a lay reader I think I have fairly robust understanding of biological evolution and why it is the best explanation we have for the origin of species.
A recent Pew Research poll (Religious Landscape Survey) found that 8 in 10 Americans now accept evolution—though there is a caveat.
When asked: "Which of these statements about the development of human life on Earth comes closest to your view?"
- 33%: "Humans have evolved over time due to processes such as natural selection; God or a higher power had no role in this process."
- 47%: "Humans have evolved over time due to processes that were guided or allowed by God or a higher power."
- 17%: "Humans have existed in their present form since the beginning of time."
Naturally, I'm in the first camp, but I would qualify it with 'probably had no role' to maintain the honesty of my philosophical agnosticism. While I think it's great that more Americans are aligning with the scientific consensus on evolution, the degree of acceptance varies. Factors such as religious belief and education level still play a significant role in shaping how people understand and interpret evolution. While there may be some overlap in interpreting 'higher power' as the Forces of Nature, it's likely that most people in this category envision some form of supernatural creator-being (as seen in Intelligent Design), even if it remains entirely unknown to us. That said, even a generous allegorical retelling of the Book of Genesis cannot align with what we know to be true today—the notion represented by the 17% category is simply false.
This will not stop attacks on science.
We got hit with a winter blast yesterday, dropping a few inches of snow, but it's set to melt later today. The weekend was warmer, though birding has still been fairly quiet. However, I did spot my first Red-winged Blackbirds and Sandhill Cranes of the spring migration, so it's officially underway.
Nearer to Goose Pond, there were a few dozen Greater White-fronted Geese hanging out with hundreds of Canada Geese. All the ponds in the area are still frozen over.
With all the goose antics, it can be tricky to get a shot without other birds sneaking into the frame.
Photo-bombing ...
There we go ...
Here in southern Wisconsin, the migration window for Greater White-fronted Geese is pretty narrow. I don't follow things like record-early or late any longer, but for me it's generally the last week of February to early March that I get to see them. They quickly move on. Species-wise, most migratory birds coming into Wisconsin right now stick around through the breeding season, but these geese fly all the way up to the Arctic Circle.
All images © 2025 Mike McDowell