Big Deal for Big-eared Bats

     The extra special feature of the Red Hills is the presence of over half of all the state's caves.  And the special feature of some of the caves is they harbor a number of bat species.  Of these half dozen or so species, the coolest is the Townsend's Big-eared Bat with the scientific name, Corynorhinus townsendii.  This edition of the outback highlights one particularly special cave, Havard Cave, the above special bat species, and the very dedicated researchers working to help preserve all the above.  Following the long-term Red Hills bat census efforts by Stan Roth, retired high school teacher from Lawrence, Dr. Bill Jensen and student Mitch Rens of Emporia State University are continuing his biennial winter bat census.  They practice extensive precautions to dis-infect all clothing, instruments and other supplies used in this research project.  This is necessary because of the potential for the presence of the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans and an absolute need to prevent any possible spread under even the slightest chance of its presence.  As its name implies, the fungus can be deadly to some bat species.  White-nosed Syndrome (WNS) is the disease caused by the fungus and has caused as high as 95% mortality in some species in some caves in the eastern U.S.   Spores of the fungus have been discovered in at least one cave in Kansas but, fortunately, no WNS has been identified to date.

        Two Townsend's Big-eared Bats hang out in a state of torpor, hibernating in Havard Cave.  One has ears extended and the other ears folded.

A group of Big-eared Bats congregate to conserve energy through the winter.  For some unknown reason, one of them is an outcast.

 Bill and Mitch peel off their protective gear and sanitize.  It's a cumbersome but necessary precaution.

            Mitch swabs the wing of a Tri-colored Bat for testing for the fungus that causes White-nose Syndrome.

                The "Grand Canyon" of Havard Cave is one of the most impressive features of 
any Kansas cave.

The "Big Room" of Havard Cave with the author.

   Lee Ann shows the beauty of the canyon and
 ceiling sculpture of Havard Cave.

               Dr. Jensen exits the narrow entrance after an exhausting day of spelunking and biology.

[All Red Hills caves, including Havard Cave, are on private property.  Because of the fragile nature of these caves and their inhabitants, locations should never be disclosed.  Their conservation depends greatly on honoring this condition.]

Red, White and Blue ... birds

The male Cardinal in all his glory.

                                                                                                                                                                

Winter brings so many treats,

     which grace our yards with feathered beasts,

who come forth now to hopeful feasts,

     on suet and sunflower seeds.

The cold deep snow has brought them here,

      they come to offerings without fear,

 no food is found in fields so near,

     we're glad they're around to give us cheer.

To cedar bough red birds retreat,

     awaiting each their turn to eat,

the bluebirds take to their own seat,

     anxious for refreshing drink.

Many birds frequent our place,

    each species with a special grace,

but these blues and reds just seem to make,

    the best of hues in brilliant shades.

     

This Eastern Bluebird is not mad, just thirsty.

Goose Music

     Like giant winged snowflakes softly settling to the ground, these snow geese emulate nature's winter symphony.  I defer to Aldo Leopold's elegant prose below to describe the beauty of geese.

"If then we can live without goose music, we may as well do away with stars, or sunsets, or Iliads.  But the point is that we would be fools to do away with any of them."  Aldo Leopold from A Sand County Almanac.

Thousands of snow geese with a smattering of blues, Canadas and White-fronted geese swarm like flies on a stubble field in southern Kansas.

Postscript on Blackbirds

Blackbirds fill the winter cottonwoods.

Trees of Blackbird Leaves

Limbs so starkly bare,

no leaves the wind to share;

cottonwoods sway slightly there

in brisk cold winter air.

Soon the lonesome tree becomes

 roost to birds so burdensome;

they bend the branches from

weight of many of their own.

For from surrounding fields

a million Red-winged Blackbirds yield

to swarm these wooden keels,

these noisy feathery beasts of zeal.

Undulating skeins of black,

synchronized with flight exact,

to sway with such rhythmic tact,

stuff my cottonwood to the max.

Huge flocks they came with quite the flair,

I amused by numbers there,

hypnotized I simply stare

in brisk cold winter air. 

And then the tree exploded with startled birds when this young Sharp-shinned Hawk came calling! :-)

Blackbird Ballet

Red epaulets (shoulder patches) distinguish the adult male Red-winged Blackbirds in the flock.

     Red-winged Blackbirds congregate in huge flocks in their wintering grounds in southern Kansas including the Red Hills.  While they certainly are among some species which supply aggravation to grain farmers and feedlots, their other attributes can be quite entertaining.  I have always been mesmerized by the sinuous, winding flights of millions of blackbirds.  Once I tracked a fight next to a roadway which was 14 miles long!  Certainly, congregations of animals in these numbers are a spectacle, even more so when they snake through the air in amazingly tight and synchronized movements.  Next time you notice a huge flock of blackbirds, take a moment.  Watch them for a while and become hypnotized by one of the most graceful and coordinated behaviors of nature.  This is just another subtle joy and satisfaction of being in the Kansas Outback!

Watch the sinuous, undulating flights of these millions of Red-winged Blackbirds.

Now doesn't that make you feel better?

Winter Stream

  

Morning sun sends streaks of rays

     to nurture icy creeks;

they turn to stars in rippled waves

     that devour sparkling treats;

A nourishing celestial meal

     quenched by melting snow,

sustains small life which you conceal

     in relentless hurried flow;

I softly step your frozen shore

     and peer through water's sheen;

some shiners dance your sandy floor

     which currents have swept clean;

A chilly breeze whose presence known

     by brushstrokes on your surface,

has scripted a concentric poem

     upon your glossy canvas;

The wind yields silence through your trees,

     no leaves to sing its rapture;

it wanders upstream aimlessly,

     leaving but a whisper;

Then finds on perch a great-horned owl

     to walnut branch it clings,

and relentlessly starts teasing now

     until the bird takes wing;

And suddenly this quiet grace

     erupts in noisy chorus,

a flock of crows gives raucous chase

     this sentinel of your forest;

The valley's blessed by peace once more

     as intrusion slowly fades;

Chickadees show a grand support

     by calling out their names;

Did you see the drama in your depths

     or taste the frosted snow?

Did you feel the cold wind to your breast

     or hear the birds' fine prose?

It matters not, I sense inside,

     if winter streams don't know,

the special treasures they provide

     these pleasures to my soul. 

               

Mid-winter Blues

Mountain bluebirds congregate in the Red Hills every winter.  This year's population has been spectacular!

Winter often brings the blues

in different forms and different hues;

some lament the season's cold

others rejoice as it unfolds.

Thrushes from the frozen north

seek refuge in Red Hills resorts

of rolling grassy red terrain

on cedar berries they are maintained.

Red cedars pose a serious threat 

puts the ranching culture to the test,

and pretty birds that bless our eyes

also cause the prairie's demise.

So with some ambiguity

I praise these azure birds I see;

I only wish they'd take the seeds

far far away this wish I plead.