The Ohio River at the Falls of the Ohio is even higher now since my last visit with the fishermen. We have had some wild weather in the interim. First it gets unseasonably warm and then a cold front collides with a wet weather system originating in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of this can be very dangerous as this is the perfect recipe for a tornado outbreak which did occur south of here. My family was awakened to the sound of tornado warning sirens at 4:30ish in the morning. We began that day in the basement of our house which was a rude awakening even for the family dog. Luckily, we didn’t experience any damage although it rained hard and was very windy. And after the cold front blasted through it became extremely cold and was followed by snow. I think we have seen the gamut of winter weather and I was glad to hear the “groundhog” did not see its shadow in Pennsylvania meaning that winter would come to a normal end this year. That is if you believe animals can predict the weather?
I am certain this time that my outdoor studio under the willows is history by now. The Ohio River has claimed the spot and my cache of art materials. Unfortunately, there is a ready re-supply floating in the water. It seems I begin many a post with what amounts to a weather report, but please bear with me. My blog concerns itself with the local conditions which are the context that my adventures and stories are set in. I’m also amazed and concerned that I can detect variations in our weather patterns having lived in this area for so long. Much of the time I feel I’m bearing witness to events of importance to us all. What is happening here is also occurring in other places in the world. As I was walking through the woods on this day, I was surprised by the bird life I was encountering when I expected to see nearly nothing. My Eastern Bluebird friends were still hanging around and they had company. I saw White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Brown Tree Creepers and many more especially near the river’s expanding edge. I also saw and photographed another amazing bird which makes up the bulk of this post.
Fellow bird watchers had put the alert out that an unusual visitor was seen hanging out at the Falls. A young, male Snow Cock was seen near the Woodland Loop Trail which is a bird not seen in these parts since the late 19th century. As you can imagine this is a northern bird used to the cold and snow…in fact it depends upon these conditions for its survival. The Snow Cock (like some ptarmigan species) turns nearly white in winter. The rest of the year it sports plumage that is more like leaf camouflage. Regardless of the season, the Snow Cock is a cryptic animal and is shy and retiring. Except of course when it’s time to choose a mate when the males make it a point to be as noticeable to their own kind as possible. I was hoping the bad weather would cause this wayward Snow Cock to linger and I was rewarded by its presence. I took as many photographs as possible. I have a feeling that I won’t ever see this exact species out here again.
The Snow Cock is also called the “Snow Turkey” and “Styro-grouse” because of the large fan of tail feathers it uses for courtship displays. That’s how I found this particular bird which wasn’t all that wary. The young male was rehearsing his dance and song and establishing a lek or territory where he would fight other males for the attention of the females. Although this bird wasn’t going to hang out at the Falls forever, it was nevertheless, practicing this important survival skill. Other interesting field marks included a head crest, an unusual beard growing from his chest, and a long bill for seeds and insects.
I watched the Snow Cock look for just the right spot to strut its stuff. It was frequently hopping from one vantage point (usually a tall stump) to the ground and back. The call of the Snow Cock as you might guess is very chicken-like and not particularly beautiful in its own right. To my eye, it seemed very interested in the water which was noticeably spreading over the land. This might be the first flood it has ever experienced?
I kept my distance from the bird and quietly followed it through the woods. I observed it drinking from melting ice and I left it be hanging out near a large Osage Orange tree along the trail’s path. The wind was beginning to pick up again and more flakes were in the air. Despite wearing good gloves, my finger tips were cold and painful. I decided that now was a good time to go home and I did. I hope the next time I’m out here that the conditions will be more favorable for an extended visit. I had one other small surprise waiting for me along the Woodland Loop Trail. I passed the spot by the creek where I watched the fishermen catch sauger and was amazed and amused that the figure I had made from river junk that day was still there! He was missing his nose, but otherwise he was intact. I guess the fishermen appreciated him as I do you for tagging along on another adventure at the Falls of the Ohio.
I come across and photograph enough of these gasoline containers that they form a subcategory of objects that I pay attention to. Gasoline is such a sign of the times that it seems particularly relevant. Where do these containers come from? I have never found one that still had gas in it. Because plastic is made from petroleum, as is gasoline, does putting gas into these containers become a redundant act?
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 