The Aerialist

I snapped the photo above in April of 2011 While turkey hunting; which for reasons of being concealed in a blind is good for all manner of wildlife observations.

Meet Tachycineta bicolor - the tree swallow. 

This blue-green feathered bird is an early spring arrival and they are a delight to observe as they are spectacular aviators who hunt flying insects.

As a cavity-nesting species this bird had historically been found only in wooded habitat where they nested in tree cavities.  However, the distribution of nest boxes by songbird enthusiasts has allowed for the expansion of its range to include open habitats,  They compete with bluebirds and house wrens for rights to nest in our boxes.  

I the photo the two birds were engaging in their courtship ritual and selection of a nest box.  I observed the very same ritual while turkey hunting this April; only it was bluebirds.  

And if you follow this blog the courtship, along with other nesting sites, has yielded another batch of bluebird hatchlings calling for cigars all-around.

But I digress. 

With regard to the tree swallows; both birds gather materials as the female constructs a cup-shaped nest of grass lined with feathers.  Four to seven small eggs follow about a week after mating. 

I took this photo the same day I took the bluebird hatchling photo immediately above. As soon as eggs are laid mama lines her nest with feathers gathered from all species.  They are incubated by mom for a couple of weeks and after hatching both birds feed the young who fledge at about three weeks of age.

Aside from being splendid aerialists the tree swallow is fearless. Evidenced above, mama swallow is not to be shifted from sitting on her clutch of eggs if some galoot pokes his nose in to take a photo .

Nest predation typically occurs by snakes, raccoons, weasels and cats. Birds on the wing can be picked-off by most any of the resident raptors.  It is during this critical nesting period I have to wear a ball cap when walking the dog as we get dive-bombed when approaching an active nest.

By the time August rolls-around these bird are gone.  Vamoosed!

They leave their breeding grounds to congregate in large flocks in marshy areas with plenty of flying insects to feed-upon.  From there they migrate to Florida, Cuba, Central and South America.  Other than the dive-bombing it is a hoot to watch this talented aerialist.

Mighty Oak

I was in the Naked City end of last week for various reasons and stumbled-upon this in a parking lot.

Hard to tell specifically at this stage but it appears to be a member of the white oak family.

I don't give it much chance of surviving such harsh, city conditions and the crappy location.

But I give it an "A" for effort.

Good luck little buddy....

 

 

Crop Duster

I was puttering in my raised garden beds when a shriek from The Missus pierced the air.  This was followed by urgent commands to the dog.  

The cause of the ruckus was this...

There was the Mother of all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) westbound, coming straight for our driveway only to stop at the property line, pirouette and head eastward all the while spraying the neighbor's field.  The drift smelled of fertilizer; nevertheless, since the dog decided to chase-down the alien contraption when we finally collected her she got a bath.

I recently took delivery of a UAV of my own; a DJI Neo, a small drone that I could use for photography and scouting that doesn't require a pilot license.  The very same company manufactures a heavy-lift agricultural model in the Agras lineup - the DJI Agras T40 and successor DJI Agras T50.  They're difficult to tell apart from one another but they're considered the gold standard of drones designed specifically for precision farming.

The basic design includes a four-arm layout featuring coaxial twin rotors - notably two sets  of propellers per arm totally eight blades.  Brushless motors drive the 54-inch carbon fiber props.  There is landing gear and a tank set-up that can be swapped-out in minutes for both spreading dry product (fertilizer, lime and seed) or liquids (fertilizer, herbicide or insecticide).

You'll note from the videos that there are no traditional high pressure nozzles.  Instead the drone utilizes spinning discs that atomize the liquid to an adjustable mist producing droplets ranging from 50 to 500 microns in size.  Impeller pumps deliver a flow rate of 16 to 24 liters per minute and an application swath can range from 22 to 36 feet depending-upon altitude.  Tipping the scales at a paltry 4.8 ounces (including battery) my miniature DJI Neo pales when compared to its farming cousin.  The AG version boasts a takeoff weight (aircraft, battery and payload) of up to 227 pounds and can fly at 15-20 mph.

Avionics include a phased array radar, binocular vision and real time kinetic positioning guided by Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) ensuring no overlapping or missed crop rows.   There is a camera for piloting by First Person View; however, once a field has been flown for mapping purposes control is handed-off to an autonomous system for flight.  The T40 and T50 drones can spray 50-52 acres in less than an hour of flight time without breaking a sweat.  Power is supplied by a 26 pound battery than can be charged from empty to 100% in 9-12 minutes allowing a two-battery rotation to run continuously all day long.

As a consequence of being well over the weight threshold for a hobbyist like me, operation requires a specialized FAA Part 137 agricultural pilot certificate and a Class 2 medical certificate.  Just like barnstorming an old school crop duster; only the pilot never leaves the ground.

Unfolded, and configured for flight, the aircraft measures roughly 9 by 10 feet from blade tip to blade tip; or about the size of a compact car.  Watching one of these in flight, up close and personal, is indeed impressive.

Starting price for a T50 heavy-lift, LIDAR-equipped quadcopter is $29,646.  

Think of the possibilities....  

Central Planning Meets The Law Of Unintended Consequences

Central planning is frequently (and erroneously) considered synonymous with socialism or communism.  Central planning is a legitimate economic model.  Socialism and communism use central planning as a way of achieving other social and political goals, but generally operate within the construct of a mixed economy.

Does that sound familiar?  It should, because that is a Trumpian economic model.  However, President Trump puts his own nuance on the concept; he, alone, is the decider. 

The president has downplayed the economic stresses arising as a consequence of his tariff policy and unilateral decision to go to war with Iran.  Asked earlier this month whether the financial situation of average Americans was a motive to end the Iran war, he said not even a little bit.  And you know what?  I believe him.  The president is adept at saying the quiet part out loud.  After-all, just like going to war, he alone is the decider.

There is a weak link in the chain of a centrally-planned economy orchestrated by a single individual.  Particularly if that individual is surrounded by sycophants.  In the absence  of hybrid vigor,  economics becomes inbred and less resistant to disruption by outside forces.  Add a war to the mix and things get more complicated.

Consider this; the percentage of credit card balances at least 90 days delinquent rose to 13.2% in the first quarter, the highest level in 15 years.  America's total credit card balance reached $1.25 trillion in the first quarter, the highest first quarter balance since the Fed began tracking it in 1999.

The average interest rate on these cards rose to 21% in February from 14.6% in February 2022 putting an additional strain on consumers.  Why is this important?  Our economy is not driven by manufacturing; it is a service-based economy driven by consumers.

Soaring interest rates and rising inflation have led to the highest delinquencies since the financial crisis; a pattern economists refer-to as survival debt. 

And, of course, the Strait remains effectively closed leaving global supply chains seriously messed-up with all sorta unintended consequences.  So I'm still waiting on President Trump to improve everyone's (not just the investor class) prosperity and general lot in life.  Along with making the world a safer place.

I sure hope he gets this right.  After-all, he's the decider.... 

Cryogenic Critter

 Member of the local frog chorale, adept climber of vertical surfaces and personal friend.  

click on image for a closer look

 

Meet Hyla versicolor - the gray tree frog.  

This amphibian sports a number of chameleon-like qualities allowing it to change in coloration in seconds from green to gray with darker mottling or a solid color.  This wonder of camouflage allows the frog to blend-in with tree bark and foliage. Field marks for this frog include a white spot below each eye, white belly and bright yellow-orange skin beneath its thighs.    

The gray tree frog is nocturnal – foraging in the evening for insects and other bugs and resting during the day in cover.  I found this guy hanging out on the shady side of the house.  Yes, on the siding.  The toe pads are pronounced and produce a sticky substance allowing this critter to cling to various surfaces.  

While the breeding season is presently in full swing - this species will sing beyond the breeding season, especially on warm, rainy or humid days.   The female selects a mate based upon his call, lays up to 2000 eggs in groups of 10 to 50.  The tadpoles hatch in four or five days and will change into froglets in about two months.    

The gray tree frog overwinters under leaf litter, logs and rocks and actually freezes.  Yup, it can freeze solid and thaw out perfectly fine when spring rolls-around.  It produces large amounts of glycerol replacing water in vital organs which acts like antifreeze (called a cryoprotectant) and prevents ice crystals from forming in the cells.  The frog’s body freezes and its heartbeat and breathing stop and the critter enters a sate of suspended animation.  Even the brain cells are barely functioning with demand for energy and oxygen dropping almost to zero.  This state of suspended animation require no upkeep.  When the temperature warms up – the frog thaws out and emerges to serenade us with its calling.

Now that, pardon the pun, is cool.

From a couple of nights ago taking Doggo out for potty call before bedtime I captured 30 seconds of this frog's chorale.  Turn-up the volume...

 

May Astronomy

There are two types of Blue Moon and neither has anything to do with color.  Ordinarily a Blue Moon is a second full moon that appears in a calendar month. The 1937 edition of the now defunct Maine Farmers' Almanac (not to be confused with The Old Farmers Almanac) explained in their calendar that a Blue Moon occurs when one of the four seasons contains four full moons instead of the usual three.  The August 21, 1937 moon was the third of four full moons that summer when for no apparent reason it was reported as a Blue Moon.  Ever since, a seasonal blue moon refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.

Anyway, at sunset this evening the second full moon of the month will rise in the east very close to the bright red star, Antares; the brightest of stars in the constellation Scorpius.  It will appear full both tonight and officially tomorrow.

Because it is the second of three consecutive smallest of 2026 full moons it is also what is called a micromoon.  This moon is 252,360 miles (406,135 kilometers) distant.  Ordinarily, the average distance is 238,900 miles (384,472 kilometers) distant.

Fingers-crossed for clear night skies tonight and tomorrow.

Frog Chorale

 

It’s a bit past 10:30 PM; bedtime.  So I took doggo out for potty call and the opportunity to record 30 seconds of gray tree frogs. 

If you’re into amphibian courtship rituals; this is what it’s all about so turn-up the volume. 

Music to my ears….