Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

People are weird.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

Let there be snark.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

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On the Road and In Your Backyard

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On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.

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Good Morning All,

 

Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the pictures!

 

Today, pictures from valued commenter Albatrossity.

More images of the critters found in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Taken on 2017-10-02 00:00:00

Flint Hills of Kansas

Large herds of bison historically roamed these hills, but nowadays there are lots more cattle than bison. Nonetheless there are still some bison herds in the Flint Hills, both on private ranches and on publicly accessible land like the Tallgrass National Monument near Cottonwood Falls KS. This winsome fellow lives on the Konza Prairie Biological Station south of Manhattan KS. Konza has a trail system that is open to the public, but it does not go through the area of the station where the bison lives. Come visit me sometime and maybe we can get you out there.

Taken on 2017-07-24 00:00:00

Flint Hills of Kansas

The Dickcissel is an abundant and very vocal summer resident throughout the state, but is particularly abundant and vocal in the Flint Hills. This one is perched on another iconic prairie species, the Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum). If you’ve read Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac, perhaps you remember this passage: “What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked.”

Taken on 2013-10-26 00:00:00

Flint Hills of Kansas

Field Sparrows are common summer and rare winter residents of the Flint Hills, but are also found across the North American continent. Their orangish-pink bills and prominent white eye-ring make them stand out even in the grasses and forbs of the prairie.

Taken on 2017-09-07 00:00:00

Bell’s Vireo

Bell’s Vireos are abundant and also very vocal summer residents; just about any patch of Narrow-leaved Dogwood on the prairie will have a proprietary Bell’s Vireo blasting out his territorial song all day long. They are also tiny, and notorious skulkers, so I was very happy to lure this one out briefly for a portrait.

Taken on 2017-05-24 00:00:00

Flint Hills of Kansas

Indigo Buntings are found across much of eastern North America, and are even spreading westward these days. This species was probably not very common on the prairies historically, since there were not very many trees until the land was settled and fires were suppressed. But they are common now in the summer, and a welcome voice during the hot parts of the year.

 

Thank you so much Albatrossity, do send us more when you can.

 

Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.

 

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Reader Interactions

16Comments

  3. 3.

    Rob

    The song of the Bell’s Vireo often sounds like “you don’t know where the heck I am!”, so appropriate for this skulker.

  6. 6.

    OzarkHillbilly

    If you’ve read Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac, perhaps you remember this passage: “What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked.”

    I love the Sand County Almanac. It is a permanent resident on my “To read again shelf”. I don’t however, recall that passage. Guess that means I need to read it a fourth time.

  12. 12.

    Spanky

    You are planning on putting out a 2020 calendar before Christmas, right? Because the 2019 version turned out to be a very appreciated present for my bird watcher relatives.

    Marketing tip: Put out two versions so people can buy both.

  14. 14.

    Albatrossity

    @Spanky: Thanks! I’m glad it was appreciated. And yes, I have already laid out the 2020 calendar; theme this year will be Hawks and Owls of Kansas. I’ll let you all know when it is finalized and available.

    MelissaM: Skulkers can be lured out by making noises that sound somewhat like other scolding birds; birders call this “pishing”. Here’s a primer – thespruce.com/pishing-to-attract-birds-386698

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