Essays

Wild On The Prairie: Temporal Observations

Late Summer Observations
August 29, 1999

The long, hot summer is winding down. Plants and animals have endured and struggled. Mental and physical aestivation is ending for us humans. For those of us who love the out-of-doors, August is a dreary month. We observe the crinkling and withering of plants, and count the long days of “sameness” in the landscape. Resident birds hide while they molt following the nesting and fledging season. If we are lucky, fall rains will begin in August greening the landscape until frost. But… recently, it seems, we have had no luck at all. This is the sixth year of drought, despite the respite of June’s above-average monthly rainfall.

Fall bird migration is beginning. Hearing the overhead burbling of an Upland Sandpiper on a cloudy night is a promise of the solace of cooler times. Empidonax flycatchers have arrived from montane nesting grounds, pausing here for a few days of snacking. Our summering Mississippi Kites, circling in groups above residential areas, have been getting restless to leave.

Hummingbird migration, however, is sparse this year. Our dry countryside seems to repel them, the western species remaining to the west, where monsoon rains keep flowers blooming. Only a few Broadtailed and one Rufous Hummingbird have been reported. No Calliope Hummers have yet visited. Ruby-throated Hummers often come from the northeast, but not this year.

Many people have noticed the increased activity of swallows. Some are Barn and Cliff Swallows that might have been raised locally, but more are arriving from the north along with Rough-wing Swallows. A few warblers have been seen flitting high in the trees, and more will come in September. A Peregrine Falcon passed through town in August, and soon Kestrels will be perching on telephone poles across the county.

Hatchling box turtles should be emerging soon. Baby horny toads already have. Young bullsnakes will be dispersing as the weather cools. The close observer can find tiny lizards of all the local species. The southeastern Gulf winds bring butterflies from the Rio Grande Valley to us. A Mexican Fritillary arrived in late July. Keep your eyes open for the spectacular Zebra Longwing, a huge black and yellow, oddly-shaped butterfly (like a figure eight on its side).

Late summer is the time for immature creatures to be wandering around. During August several people noticed families of usually nocturnal foxes during the day. Roadrunners have become more visible, as well, their bold proximity the likely result of youthful ignorance.

Fall on the Llano Estacado is like a second spring. As the weather cools, a person’s spirits lift. One’s footsteps gain lightness. The cooler air gives rise to a renewed energy. Yeee-haw! We made it through another summer!

Many people enjoy keeping animals as pets. When the owner tires of the animal, something sad occurs. Sometimes the animal is let go to fend for itself. If a native box turtle or hog-nosed snake is released in the wild, it will survive. We have heard of several animals released in places and times they should not have been. For example, two Texas Gopher Tortoises (native to the brushcountry of South Texas) have been found walking the streets of Midland. A huge 2-foot iguana was also found. A group of black and white lab rats were released at the Sibley Pond, and quickly disappeared into the jaws of visiting foxes. The same thing happened to several guinea pigs and gerbils. The irresponsibility of dumping non-native creatures is despicable behavior. Non-native animals are never “better off” living wild.

There is a cliché – “Live life to the fullest”. Some people do not, slipping and sliding along, doing only what is necessary to survive. Their television drones all day long. No books, magazines, or newspapers can be found in the house. If the natural world is even thought of, it is as a background to play, or a place to throw trash. For such dullards, “home” could be anywhere.

“Home” is a word that implies a world of connections – relatives, friends, neighbors, jobs, shops and all of the human world. It also implies a place – its weather, the landforms, the plants, and the animals which inhabit it. It is Sibley’s goal to help people learn about the natural world of this place, to be aware of the connections one can form with our homeland, the Llano Estacado. We believe that to ‘live life to the fullest” a person should know the natural world around them. As fall approaches, and the heat fades, the cool air entices and invigorates a person to venture out, blinking their eyes like a bear awakening from hibernation. Get off your rear-end and get outside!