Hazy Days in Siouxland, Rural Nebraska

A turkey vulture flies over tree tops through a smokey haze created by western wildfires seen near Winnebago NE Saturday, July 31, 2021 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Like many places throughout the U.S. this summer, there were a number of hazy days in Siouxland created by the wildfires raging out west in different states. The air quality was sometimes repressive as the haze lingered for days, and only recently with rains passing through the region has the quality begun to improve.

The native American wild turkey seems to ignore the old adage of crossing the road seen near Winnebago NE Saturday, July 31, 2021 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And it seems unlikely that this year will be an anomaly with what is to come. More likely more fires until everything is burnt and then years as regrowth takes place hopefully bringing to life what took hundreds of years to create, especially the old growth forests. Looking forward to fall in Siouxland it will be nice to go about and hopefully enjoy some cooler temps and whatever color the trees will share this year.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A smokey haze created by western wildfires hangs in the atmosphere near Winnebago NE Saturday, July 31, 2021 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A raptor sits on the corner of a roof of a shed waiting seen near Winnebago NE Saturday, July 31, 2021 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)