Will Wild Horses Able to Ride Out Hurricane? - Part 1 – Nature 12

 

Wild horses on beach, North Carolina

I knew the wild horses are living in the forest or jungle close by mountains. It was surprising me, herds of wild horses wandered on the beach.

They are feeding on wild grass that growing lightly on the sand or sand dunes. Grass looks green and fresh.

The horses, colonial Spanish Mustang have lived on the Outer Banks beach, North Carolina for around 500 years.

Tourists have come to beach not only to observe the horses, but also other purposes:

- warm summer
- beautiful sandy beach
- awesome waves
- spacy place (miles of beach)
- clear ocean waters during summer and fall

What visitors are prohibited to do with wild horses?

An antique brass horse, just for illustration.

In respect to wild horses, visitors are prohibited to:

- pet the horses
- try to ride the horses
- approach the horses at 50 feet distance.

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous posts:

- Wild Flowers in the Backyards – Nature 1
- Snow Storm in Our City Baton Rouge – Nature 2
- Snowy Owl Re-Appearing after Hiding for 130 years – Nature 3
- How Many Animals Are Expected to Extinct by 2050? - Nature 4
- White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5

Hurricane Ida Hit Our Neighborhood – Nature 11

Fig 01- Tree down in our neighborhood

Hurricane Ida with speed of 230 km per hour, called as a category 4 hurricane. Then its traveled to US mainland and our city, Baton Rouge, LA with category 1 storm.

It was mean the wind slow down from 230 km per hour to 155 km per hour. I think this is a strong wind, enough to damage some public and private entities.

Moreover, the causalities of hurricane Ida in our state are following (just few important facts):

+ 10 death (Axios, 2021 reported 13 death in Louisiana)
+ more than 1 million houses and businesses have no electricity
+ more than 14,000 people are displaced
+ flash flood with rain 2 to 3 inches (51 to 76 mm)
+ hit oil industries, caused shortage in gasoline supply. We have no gas for several days.
+ Estimated economic lost between US$ 70 to US$ 80 billion.
+ Ports in the gulf of Mexico are closed.

Fig 02- Branches and leaves scattered everywhere

Fig 03- A big tree hit a house and electric wires

Fig 04- Cutting and cleaning works

Fig 05- Trucks and line men to fix the electric wires

In our neighborhood and city, we saw that hurricane Ida took down:

- electric lines
- trees, especially old and tall trees.

Some house’s roof are damaged and part of city was flooded. We can’t drive in several flooded roads.

We experienced for about 5 days after hurricane Ida:

- power outages
- no internet connection
- no cell phone network (for two days).

Finally, we have a lot of branches and leaves in our yard, and we start to clean our house and yard now.

Birds Fly Over Our Backyard – Nature 10

A crow flies away

My kitchen faces backyard, so when I am cooking or just sitting, I could see many wild animals, many are birds, but some are mammals:

- variety of birds
- raccoon
- squirrels
- cats (may be belong to neighbors, but I consider wild, since I don’t know who is the owner).

Birds that always visited my backyard during spring and summer seasons are:

- cardinals
- humming birds
- wood peckers
- Mocking birds
- Crows
- blue birds

A juvenile heron in neighborhood

One day I heard the sound of crow. The sound was “rattle” on my ear, then like “click and bell.”

I approached close and closely to photo taken, but it flies suddenly. Pictures are not good enough.

Actually, crows are abundance birds in my city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It seems that they able to adapt to the city environment.

We may find crows every where. Birds are reasonable medium size. Wing size when it open wide is around 32 to 40 inches (81 cm to 102 cm).

What do you think about crow?

# Have a great summer

When do Pine Trees of our Neighborhood Produce Nuts? - Nature 9

Fig 01- Nuts of pine trees

We routine go shopping to our neighborhood Walmart super center for everything from grocery to medicine.

We noticed that there are plenty of trees planted in park lot areas. We guess those trees are pine trees like.

Here in Lousiana, we have several kind of pine trees, some of them are:

- The spruce pine tree (Pinus glabra)
- The longleaf pine tree (Pinus palustris)
- The loblolly pine tree (Pinus taeda)
- The slash pine tree (Pinus elliottii).
- The Virginia pine tree (Pinus virginiana)
- The shortleaf pine tree (Pinus echinata)

Pine trees mainly are evergreen, but some species change their leaves color to red to brown in the autumn, then fall down.

We know that leaves of pine trees at our neighborhood have changed colors during fall season. The tree and leaves re-grow in the spring.

Fig 02- Two pine trees at parking lot.

Fig 03- The trees produce nuts or seeds

We are quite surprising, after take a look closer to the branches that the trees are producing nuts or seeds at this time around, middle of May.

Like other trees in the northern hemisphere, the production followed the seasonal temperatures.

We read from literature that at least 20 species of pine trees produces nuts or seeds. Our pine nuts size is quite big enough with rounded shapes.

Most pine nuts are edible and good for sources of nutritional foods. Zero cholesterol and sodium.

Have you tried nuts of a pine tree?

Flash Flood at my Neighborhood - Nature 8b

Fig 01- Flood in our neighborhood recently

As you might know that our state, Louisiana experienced “highest rainfall” in 2016.

On that time, rainfall reached 510 mm (20 inches) in many parishes (territories), caused overflows in the streets, rivers and waterways. Rain dropped about “7.1 trillion gallons of water” in one week.

2016 great flood in Louisiana cost billion of dollar, estimated from US$ 10 to US$ 15 billion dollars.

Catastrophic Flooding had contributed to:

- damage of thousand houses
- submerge of thousand business
- loss of agricultural production
- 60 people dead

However, our current two days rainfall was very “small” compared to 2016 disaster. But, its flash flood was scary enough. 

Fig 02- Water covered streets

Fig 03- Garbage bins were floating from up streets

Fig 04- Flooding in front of several houses.

As you can see (please see Fig 01, 02 and 04 at above), the water had flown in front of the houses.

This flows dragging and moving around many things include:

- garbage bins
- branches
- leaves
- cars

From local news that 2 dead in our city, and totally 4 death in the state of Louisiana.

No one of my neighbors.

Since we got very early warning, and based on 2016 big flooding experienced, hence, we have a little bit “well prepare” to cope with this flooding.

Wild Animals and Birds in my Backyard – Nature 8a

Fig 01- The blue bird

Our kitchen faces backyard, so when we are cooking or just sitting, we could see many wild animals.

A lot are birds, but some are mammals, they are:

- raccoon
- squirrels
- cats (may be belong to neighbors, but I consider wild, since I don’t know who is the owner).
- variety of birds

In respect to birds that always visited my backyard during spring and summer seasons are:

- humming birds
- cardinals
- wood peckers
- Mocking birds
- Crows

Fig 02- A neighborhood cat

Fig 03- A crow flies away

Fig 04- A Crow sitting on the wire

One day we heard the sound of crow. The sound was “rattle” on our ear, then like “click and bell.”

We approached close and closely to photo taken, but it flies suddenly. Pictures are not good enough.

Actually, crows are abundance birds in my city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It seems that they able to adapt to the city environment.

We may find crows every where. Birds are reasonable medium size.

Wing size when it open wide is around 32 to 40 inches (81 cm to 102 cm).

What do you think about crow?

What animals visit your backyard?

Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7

Fig 01- An alligator in the canal

At previous post, we know that Louisiana has the most alligator compared to other states in the USA.

About 3 million alligators (wild and farming) are estimated living in the state of Louisiana.

Hence, it is not surprise if we may encounter alligators in the areas such as:

- ditch
- canal
- small river
- pond
- lakes
- swamps

Yes, the areas might close or far from our neighborhood.

In case we have been faced with an alligator, can we call Wild life and fishery services for help?

Fig 02- A lake in the city with cloudy cloud

Fig 03- At least two alligators seen in the canal.

My neighbors said that no, we can’t contact Wild life and fishery for just see an alligator or alligators in our area.

They will come if an alligator bites or attacks someone. Then, they will relocate the alligator.

Before that happen, what we can do is to remind our neighborhood.

Finally, can you see how many alligator at Fig-03 above?

I saw two!

Hot Summer in the USA – Temperature above 40 Celsius degree – Nature 6

Fig 01- Mid day in our neighborhood

As always, the southern states of USA have encountered hot summer temperatures, above 40 Celsius degree in certain times, and between July to August in the last few years.

The southern states include:

- Texas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Florida.

Unfortunately, two states in this June of this year, reached 44 Celsius degree. I think this is a kind of desert countries or middle east nations.

These two states usually quite mild temperature, about 10 Celsius degree. These north states in the area called “Pacific Northwest,” close to Canada.

What are the name of two states?

Why temperature is so hot?

Fig 02- Ice tea sold in many places

The name of two states in the “Pasific Northwest” region are:

- Washington, Seattle
- Oregon

Fig 03- The rainbow in the neighborhood

Strangely, Canada with temperature around 27 Celsius degree in the summer, has reached 32 Celsius degrees now days.

Why north America and Canada are so hot?

You might know the answer: Global warming.

Temperatures in some places in some countries have increased by about 2 to 5 Celsius degree.

Luckily, our southern state is still about 30 Celsius degree currently. The hottest so far.

We have rain almost every day, especially during June, temperature about 27 Celsius degree at mid day.

Rainbow appeared in the sky, looks so colorful (please see at Fig-03).

Night temperature is about 23 Celsius degree, the enjoy temperature to have a good sleep.

What is the highest temperature in your places?

Is it hotter than previous years?

White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5

White Azaleas are blooming

In one of entrances into city garden of Baton Rouge, LA, we will see white Azalea flowers.

February or March is blooming time for Azalea in our southern state areas. Our white azalea blooms in about 1 to 3 weeks only.

I think that 1 to 3 weeks is considered short period of blooming. Other flowers have longer period of blooming.

As suggested by David Beaulieu (2020, published in the Spruce), some long bloom periods flowers are:

- Coneflower, about two months

- Shasta daisy, around 5 weeks

- Ice plant, 4 weeks

- Lavender, 3 to 4 weeks

- Garden Phlox, 6 weeks

- Russian Sage, last to 15 weeks

Close up white Azaleas

Actually, we have red azaleas in our backyard, and many of my neighbors have grows variety of Azalea.

At early stage, we just need little work such as:

- watering

- pruning

- fertilizing

- give cover during cold seasons.

Then, maintenance is easy. This flower is not considered as high maintenance plant.   

How Many Animals Are Expected to Extinct by 2050? - Nature 4

A wild duck, just for illustration

Based on my own experienced that the number of birds decreased dramatically in my backyard in the last 7 years.

We did not observe red belly woodpeckers at all in the last couple years. Other birds not seen or very rare to show up in our garden:

- blue jay

- Mourning dove

- Carolina wren

- Carolina chickadee

- Northern Mockingbird 

- American Crow

- other migratory birds

In fact, a scientist from UK as reported by Guardian (2004) and supported by the United Nation report (UN, 2019) estimated 1 million species will extinct by 2050.

Then, there are a lot of lists of animals will be disappeared in the very near future worldwide. 

A Canadian geese, just for illustration.

Top 10 animals expected to extinct soon are (Newsweek, 2020):

- Sumatran Rhino

- Lange's Metalmark Butterfly

- Māui dolphin

- Red Wolf

- Kauai Akepa

- Chinese Pangolin

- Attwater's Prairie Chicken

- Florida Grasshopper Sparrow

- Vaquita

- Alabama Sturgeon

Who is the main actor as the greatest threat to survival of animals?

The absolute answer is human being!

What human being had done to contribute to lead to depletion of species? Here they are:

- pouching

- destruction of habitats

- burning fossil fuel which cause climate changes.

So sad!!

Snowy Owl Re-Appearing after Hiding for 130 years – Nature 3

Snowy owl is sitting on the hill (credit to Jamie Baker)

The snowy bird is coming from north part of the globe, the birds flew over the countries which close to their breeding of the Arctic Circle

This predator may be seen abundance about 20 to 30 years ago in the regions or countries such as:

- Russia
- Canada
- Iceland
- Denmark (Greenland)
- Sweden
- British Isles
- northern states of USA

Since the snowy birds can fly long distance about 7,000 miles (11,300 km), the bird could be observed in the southern states include:

- Texas
- Hawaii

Flowers in the city corner, just illustration

Unfortunately, once found easily, now very rare in many places. Even, no snowy owls for more than 100 years in certain areas.

The population was estimated 200,000 of snowy owl in 2013, but decreasing in great number to be 28,000 only in 2017.

Without doubt, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list the snowy owl to be “vulnerable” species.

Vulnerable species means “A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.”

Several factors caused population decreasing:

- climate changes lead to snow melt, hence less preys availability.
- illegal hunting
- hitting power lines or vehicles

Just recently, many mainstream medias, not limited to USA Today, Yahoo News, New York Times and NBC news have been surprising with appearing of snowy owl in Central Park, New York after 130 years.

We don’t know the reasons yet!!

Snow owl video:

Snow Storm in Our City Baton Rouge – Nature 2

Fig 01- Debris on the street

Like other part of USA, our city was hit by snow storm last Monday, 15 February 2021.

As one of cities in the southern state, Baton Rouge and many of my neighbors never experienced of:

- lower temperature of C minus 9 (-9 C) or equal to F 16 degree

- long freezing temperature almost one week, especially at night.

- ice rain

Current snow storm is the same with other storms in many case, but, since its contain snow, had specific negative impacts to our state and neighborhood.

Some of negative impacts:

- sleet has covered the entire street in several places

- debris everywhere

- trunks hit electric wires and poles

- thousands have no lights

- some of my neighbors have no water.

Fig 02- Tree fall down in our neighborhood.

After long freezing temperature, today, Sunday, 21 February 2021, the temperature was a quite warmer.

Fig 03- Icy in the yard

Temperature reached +15 C (F 59) degree. This is should be temperature in the normal Spring season.

Fig o4- Icy covered tree’s branches and chairs

Since temperature getting warmer and warmer, our neighbors start to clean up their own streets (in front of their houses) by:

- moving or blowing debris in the middle of street to the side of street.

- if debris are trees (trunks), must be cut into 6 feet lengths, and stack to the side of roads.

- trash and white goods must be separated.

In addition, residents who have old, poor condition and weaken trees should do the delimb or cut down the trees.

Hope, our neighborhood well prepare for future accidents due to future storms or hurricanes.