A new beginning

I've decided to change the title of my blog from "Random thoughts about evolution, war and bugs" because the last thing on that title is what I'm most interested in. I think I went with "evolution" because there's so much controversy (in the public mind) about that subject and I thought I could get some interest by blogging about a "controversial" subject (on which I, of course, have THE answer). My experience in Viet Nam was an obvious choice for the second topic, but - let's face it - that war is long over for everyone else and I don't feel as compelled to write about it as I once was. But bugs - now there's something I've been interested in my whole life.

Bugs, of course, are but a small part of natural history, but they're the critters that led me in to my interest in that subject, so I hope by changing focus, I'll be a true blogger and make entries at least once a week instead of once every 3 or 4 months.

So, natural history. I just got off the phone with a freelance journalist writing about the decline of Monarch butterflies. Truth is, there is no simple answer to that decline. Personally, I think the reduction of the overwintering colony site is a major factor; and the continued use of "round-up ready" GMO's certainly hasn't helped. However, I did see my first Monarch of the year yesterday May 20, 2014. And the first time I saw Monarchs last year was August 1st. I take that as a hopeful sign.

We went for a walk on the south side of the lake today and heard orioles, saw lots of goslings and a batch of mallard ducklings, blue jays and a great shot of bluebirds. The finches are nesting again by our garage after successfully fledging 3 - 4 babies earlier this year. It feels like summer out there today, but the temperature is supposed to drop tonight.

Yesterday, on campus, I photographed a number of ants and a few other things, including a red-bellied woodpecker. I'll post some pictures when I get them processed.