It is very hot and dry in the Lamar area, but always interesting.
Extreme conditions yield extreme biological activity. Perhaps most interesting is a situation involving two lone honeylocust trees on Road V a few miles northwest of Eads (Kiowa). These trees are perhaps 1 mile west of US287. The tree on the south side of Rd V is a spectacle of nature, there's no other way to describe it. Insects are the central characters in this drama, but a few birds are involved. I've stopped at these trees many times over the years to collect insects, look at flowers, stretch my legs, etc. Never have I seen anything like what is going on now with cicadas. One, perhaps two, species of large, "dog-day" cicadas in the genus Tibicen have emerged in huge numbers from the prairie near and under this tree (I mean by the several thousands). Most of them lie dead under the tree, but hundreds, perhaps a few thousand, are alive and singing a deafening (jet engine level) song in the branches of the tree. I can't imagine what it must have sounded like a week ago. Accompanying the cicadas are hundreds (yes, hundreds) of cicada killer wasps of two species. Cicada killers normally catch live cicadas which they paralyze with a sting, and then bury in the ground alive with an egg (each wasp's tunnel system includes an average of 16 cells, with 1 cicada/cell). But at present, the focus of these BIG wasps (females have a 1.5 inch long body and 3 inch wingspan) seems to be moisture, which they are getting as sap ooze from little spots on the trunk and branches. Many other insects, mostly other wasps (including a few even bigger tarantula hawks and many different species of velvet ants) and flies are also seeking shade and moisture from this tree. To emphasize the odd, "desperado" nature of this scene, an eastern fence lizard maneuvered (in search of shade and/or prey) among the tangles of dense thorns that literally cover 60% of the trunk surface, and a huge lubber grasshopper tried to blend in with the very different mix of other insects. Yesterday on a return visit to this tree, I saw a couple hundred Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies perched under the tree and on the barbed wire fence near it. As for birds, Swainson's Hawks nested in, and still use, this tree and no doubt have feasted on cicadas. And I saw a female Ring-necked Pheasant running away from the trunk as I approached. Presumably she couldn't believe the feast of cicada carcasses and low-down live ones available for the picking.
Steve Mlodinow recently reported some seemingly bizarre passerine happenings he and Nick Moore witnessed at Prewitt. In that vein, at Lamar Community College woods yesterday (7/27) were a very rough-looking Orange-crowned Warbler (one of the grayer races like celeta or orestera) and what I am calling an Eastern Wood-Pewee (essentially all-yellow lower mandible, overall pale coloration, and bright white, bold wing bars). I got so-so pics of the pewee but unfortunately it was totally silent).
Other interesting birds at LCC were Northern Cardinal (at least 2m and 1f), Blue Grosbeak (family), Lesser Goldfinches, Black-chinned Hummingbird, a small Turkey Vulture roost at the south end, and a wren (which was calling rather quietly and briefly from Marsh Wren habitat but which reminded me more of Carolina Wren). Willow Creek is dry from the Memorial Street bridge south thru most of the LCC area, with only a small pond remaining down at the south end just north of College Drive. Conspicuously absent was Red-bellied Woodpecker.
At Fairmount Cemetery at the south end of Lamar off Memorial Drive were a family of Bullock's Orioles foraging in a honeylocust, Lesser Goldfinches, and a somewhat-out-of-place Cassin's Kingbird.
At Thurston Res (Prowers) 6 miles or so north of Lamar were 8 Upland Sandpipers in the parking lot and on the nearby "shore" at the end of the south side boat ramp. These birds are definitely on the move.
While in Lamar I have seen both European Starling and Western Kingbirds eating cicadas (perhaps a different species of Tibicen than the one (or two) involved in the event above). No doubt many birds are taking advantage of cicadas at present.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Extreme conditions yield extreme biological activity. Perhaps most interesting is a situation involving two lone honeylocust trees on Road V a few miles northwest of Eads (Kiowa). These trees are perhaps 1 mile west of US287. The tree on the south side of Rd V is a spectacle of nature, there's no other way to describe it. Insects are the central characters in this drama, but a few birds are involved. I've stopped at these trees many times over the years to collect insects, look at flowers, stretch my legs, etc. Never have I seen anything like what is going on now with cicadas. One, perhaps two, species of large, "dog-day" cicadas in the genus Tibicen have emerged in huge numbers from the prairie near and under this tree (I mean by the several thousands). Most of them lie dead under the tree, but hundreds, perhaps a few thousand, are alive and singing a deafening (jet engine level) song in the branches of the tree. I can't imagine what it must have sounded like a week ago. Accompanying the cicadas are hundreds (yes, hundreds) of cicada killer wasps of two species. Cicada killers normally catch live cicadas which they paralyze with a sting, and then bury in the ground alive with an egg (each wasp's tunnel system includes an average of 16 cells, with 1 cicada/cell). But at present, the focus of these BIG wasps (females have a 1.5 inch long body and 3 inch wingspan) seems to be moisture, which they are getting as sap ooze from little spots on the trunk and branches. Many other insects, mostly other wasps (including a few even bigger tarantula hawks and many different species of velvet ants) and flies are also seeking shade and moisture from this tree. To emphasize the odd, "desperado" nature of this scene, an eastern fence lizard maneuvered (in search of shade and/or prey) among the tangles of dense thorns that literally cover 60% of the trunk surface, and a huge lubber grasshopper tried to blend in with the very different mix of other insects. Yesterday on a return visit to this tree, I saw a couple hundred Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies perched under the tree and on the barbed wire fence near it. As for birds, Swainson's Hawks nested in, and still use, this tree and no doubt have feasted on cicadas. And I saw a female Ring-necked Pheasant running away from the trunk as I approached. Presumably she couldn't believe the feast of cicada carcasses and low-down live ones available for the picking.
Steve Mlodinow recently reported some seemingly bizarre passerine happenings he and Nick Moore witnessed at Prewitt. In that vein, at Lamar Community College woods yesterday (7/27) were a very rough-looking Orange-crowned Warbler (one of the grayer races like celeta or orestera) and what I am calling an Eastern Wood-Pewee (essentially all-yellow lower mandible, overall pale coloration, and bright white, bold wing bars). I got so-so pics of the pewee but unfortunately it was totally silent).
Other interesting birds at LCC were Northern Cardinal (at least 2m and 1f), Blue Grosbeak (family), Lesser Goldfinches, Black-chinned Hummingbird, a small Turkey Vulture roost at the south end, and a wren (which was calling rather quietly and briefly from Marsh Wren habitat but which reminded me more of Carolina Wren). Willow Creek is dry from the Memorial Street bridge south thru most of the LCC area, with only a small pond remaining down at the south end just north of College Drive. Conspicuously absent was Red-bellied Woodpecker.
At Fairmount Cemetery at the south end of Lamar off Memorial Drive were a family of Bullock's Orioles foraging in a honeylocust, Lesser Goldfinches, and a somewhat-out-of-place Cassin's Kingbird.
At Thurston Res (Prowers) 6 miles or so north of Lamar were 8 Upland Sandpipers in the parking lot and on the nearby "shore" at the end of the south side boat ramp. These birds are definitely on the move.
While in Lamar I have seen both European Starling and Western Kingbirds eating cicadas (perhaps a different species of Tibicen than the one (or two) involved in the event above). No doubt many birds are taking advantage of cicadas at present.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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