The Audubon Christmas Bird Count started recently here in Siouxland and elsewhere and runs from Dec. 14, 2022 through Jan. 5, 2023. People from throughout the U.S. will go out and record what species they find and share that for the organization’s data base and ongoing tracking of bird movement. With colder temperatures descending into the Siouxland region expected soon it will be a far cry when members of the Loess Hills Audubon group took a bird walk about Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in August of this year. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and some with sandals, that won’t be the attire needed to walk about and look this winter.
According to a Connecticut chapter of the Audubon Society the Christmas bird count is one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world. And because of the time of year, different species will be found in different places. I have attended some winter bird counts in the past hosted by the local Loess Hills Audubon Society and the folk are very dedicated in looking and finding species that will help educate humans about this particular animal kingdom.
I have just not been keen on those very cold, cold mornings and rising before the sun to get out and look for the birds. For me it’s always about photographing what is at hand, and shooting in the dark has its own challenges.
I haven’t decided yet if I want to make another attempt this year or not in getting back out into the cold, all the while thinking about those spring, summer and early fall expeditions looking for birds and enjoying those warmer temperatures. Although I always dress appropriately and don’t really feel the cold, getting over the inertia to get out of bed is it’s own challenge. I just enjoy my coffee later in the morning all the more.
But looking for birds and trying to photograph them is always run, no matter the time of day or wind chill degree. It makes more a good story later on.
Recently a local park in Siouxland celebrated 25 years as a park, or nature preserve, and previously was a working farm. The park consists of roughly 1,500 acres and was donated by the granddaughters of the original homesteader, Stephen Adams. Mary and Maude Adams donated the land in 1984 for people to have a place to go for inner renewal. Part of the park is located along the Missouri River and contains a cottonwood grove and other forested areas as well as prairie meadows both of which are teeming with nature and critters.
The park has certainly evolved over this quarter of a century from the homestead , farming and “wild” acreage to a more managed park-like area that still fits the original idea of the granddaughters, but makes it more manageable for park personnel and those that enjoy their time there.
There are now many more manicured walking trails and prairie areas that have been added for the enjoyment of those who venture beyond the homestead. Many bicyclists and runners do, as do some hardy hikers.
A number of people attended the day’s celebration to support the park and enjoy a nice day. Although predicted to be hot and muggy, clouds moved in and the humidity tamped down making it a more pleasant day. One sometimes can’t ask for more than that.
This past weekend Sioux City, Iowa, celebrated an anniversary. Not especially a happy one, but one of survival, one remembrance, and one of a community coming together to help those in dire need. It was the 25th anniversary of United Airlines Flight 232 which crash landed in Sioux City, July 19, 1989, due to an historic engine failure never before occurring. An anniversary of 112 who did not survive, and a 186 who did survive. Of the entire Siouxland community, not just Sioux City, that responded in a crisis and through that response helped save many lives. The 25th anniversary occurred over three days, the first being a community discussion about what took place with Capt. Al Haynes and flight attendant Jan Brown, both crew members, talking about what happened that day along with others, including first responders. The following day was a remembrance of the 112 who did not survive, with survivor Jerry Schemmel and again, Capt. Al Haynes talking what occurred. The third day was an outdoor service, again remembering those who did not survive but also thanking the Lord for watching over those who did. With a little searching online, information about the crash, as well as current reports are easily available for a fuller look at what occurred.
I was not living in the Siouxland area at the time, but working for a newspaper in Louisiana. And I don’t really remember hearing about the crash, embarrassingly too focused on my job at the time that it didn’t register. But I do remember a friend I worked with talking about the crash. Listening to the stories this past weekend, how it affected so many people and the outpouring of support and help from small communities in the Midwest restores one faith in people helping one another. Something sorely missing in Washington and many state legislatures these days. But this weekend’s celebration again showed the caring nature of people and the strong pull of memories such an event has on individuals makes a lasting impression. To learn so much good came out of such a horrific event in heartening, but doesn’t displace the heartache felt by so many.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 