March In April

On a cool and damp April 22nd,
right here in River City...

This sentiment, and others like it, would meet with objection.

Less than 20 minutes prior to the gathering, the crowd was quite sparse.

But the crowd rapidly filled in quite nicely,
at least in part because the nature of time is important to scientists.

Speakers spoke.

As billed, the "March for Science aimed to re-familiarize citizens with the importance of science in everyday life and in policymaking."  More pragmatically, it was aimed at decrying the potential reduction in funding for the sciences, and the trend toward discounting the value of science and conclusions drawn from data obtained by science.  

Some watched and listened with rapt attention.

Though not expressly political,
it was not hard to determine the leanings of most of the crowd.

Lab coats were popular attire.

Brain hats were also popular.
Shouldn't they be gray?

The event had the feel of a jovial family outing.  People were in good spirits, and there was a laid-back sense of camaraderie.  Even though a few boo-birds called out at the beginning of Republican State Senator Joe Robach's remarks, they were soon drowned out by the cheers at his environmental message.

And there were signs.  Signs of the times.  Signs of protest.  Signs of concern.  The signs did most of the talking, though there were occasional chants.  "Science Matters!"

All seemed to enjoy reading each other's signs and appreciating the clever messages.  

I'll let the signs speak for themselves.

Mr. Globehead's arms did not get tired.

I suppose the timing of the march to coincide with Earth Day
had something to do with the many environmental messages.

Not a very religious gathering, either.

You knew there'd be some of these, didn't you?

A broad spectrum of ages was represented.
I helped anchor the other end of said spectrum.

I love the sentiment on this shirt.

Only when we began to march did I realize how many people had joined in.
There would have been even more
if the control group had not been required to stay home.

The march made a 92.3 degree turn along the way.

There were chants as we marched.  

From the all purpose:
"What does democracy look like?"
"THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!"

To the science-specific:
"What do we want?"
"SCIENCE!"
"When do we want it?"
"AFTER A PEER-REVIEWED STUDY!"

What do you think the cornice man thought of the parade?

Skip this one if you don't remember the mathematical reference.

Note the molecule necklace on the young woman in the background.

A big crowd favorite.

And, of course, my own.

Throwing in the Towel at the Owl Prowl

8 AM at Braddock's Bay State Park.  We joined a small group of people interested in being guided through the "owl woods" by a genuine bird-watching expert.

We looked high, we looked low.  We looked in the short spruces for the tiny Saw-whet owls.  They sleep near the trunks, not far off the ground.  Or so we were told.  Maybe it's true.  We saw white spots on the branches where the owls are supposed to be, so it could be that our timing was bad.

The Horned Owls hide 30 to 40 feet up in the pines.  Since they're way up there and we're way down here, the odds of spotting one are low, particularly since they often tuck themselves in behind limbs.  

But both the cardinals and humans knew the owls were there.

The droppings, the testament to a meal, and a fresh owl pellet gave credence to the thought at least one was near, even if not to be seen.  A pellet is the regurgitated remains of a meal after all the digestible portions have been processed.  

We learned a great deal about the owls, and plan to come back during the migration to the northeast which is blocked by the cold air above the cold waters of our fresh-water ocean named Ontario.  

Though our owl count was zero, you can't go terribly wrong with a walk in the woods on a cool but pleasant morning.  So Mary and I continued to another portion of the park.

Watching bird-watchers watching birds.
Do you think the birds watch the humans?

Certainly, this sparrow does.
I suppose I am on his turf.

Swallow on the rail.
That's about the only time one will get a picture.
In flight, not much chance.
Perhaps a new challenge...I love to see them in flight.

Sky roots.

Why not a Red-and-Yellow-Winged Blackbird?
Or a Red-and-Yellow-Shouldered Blackbird?
Let's get this right.
Blackbirds matter.

Ready for takeoff.

Puffy cattails backlit by the sun.
The look is cotton-candy, but I did not taste.

They go on and on.
Please don't let the the invasive phragmites supplant you.

Much Better When You Stop

There are places we drive past again and again that pique our interest.  "Someday I'll check it out," we say, and never do.  

Not so, this fine Monday.  A trip to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge was the order of the day.  The destination, even.  Not just a hurried stop along the way.  Finally, I'd be able to find out everything about those halls I've heard so much about.

But first, the swamp.

Not a bright sunny day, but not bad for early April
in Upstate New York.

Occasionally the sun would pop out and illuminate the cat-tails.
I think the volunteers keep the invasive phragmites under control.
Otherwise there would be no view beyond those lofty plants.
I'm pretty sure they take their name from a tribe of tall evil invaders
in the Bible's book of Hydroponicus.

And it would be a shame not to be able to see the ducks.

Lots of them, and lots of different kinds.
They seem to enjoy swimming.

We can cross the Goldeneye Duck off our "to be seen" list.
I wonder why they're called that.

The Mrs. and Mr., I believe.

The bufleheads were also in residence.

A buck for each duck fills a truck.

Such diversity so close to the NY State Thruway.
Seems like maybe we've done something right here,
even though the proximity must take its toll.

Taking off!

Love the splashes as they run along the water.

Also nice to see them fly.

Pony tails are in.

I love to watch these prehistoric-looking herons fly.
Very purposeful and graceful.

The tree holds court over the canal beyond the swamp.

Black ducks with a white bill?
No, these are coots!
I've been called one many times, and now I know why.
They're elegant and lovely!

Dad focusses on Mom with gosling.

A different duo drips after dunking.

Incoming and...

Splashdown.

After visiting Montezuma proper,
we went on a wild goose chase to find the sandhill cranes,
but only saw a few hawks and this killdeer.
I was convinced he only had one leg until he took off showing both.

The refuge claims 3 nesting pairs of eagles within the confines,
but we only saw this scary replica.
I would not want to meet an eagle this size, regardless of national symbolism.

All in all, a fine day at the edge of the swamp.  But we didn't see any halls during the entire escapade.  We'll have to go back and search again.