Spring in Bud

Forsythia

Spring has taken its time arriving this year. There was a significant snowfall here on Easter weekend and yesterday I had to scrape ice and snow from my car before leaving the house in the mid-morning. It continued to snow off and on all day under grey, cold skies with a cold east wind. Some years April brings a sudden warm spell that catapults flowers and trees into bud and bloom within a few days.  Our forsythia bush just started blooming on April 26, our 47th wedding anniversary and daffodils have opened up around the neighbourhood.

I love walking in the woods in early spring before the trees come into leaf. There is a definite order to the opening of spring ephemerals;- Bloodroot, Trout Lilies, Spring Beauties, Wild Ginger, Hepatica, Trilliums, with May Apples, Dutchmen's Britches, and Jack-in-the-Pulpit blooming a little later.

Plenty of buds but few open flowers

I found everything I was looking for in the bush except for Hepatica and Jack-in-the-Pulpit. The flowers were all in bud awaiting a warm day when their petals will open to welcome crawling and flying pollinators.

Wild Ginger and Bloodroot in bloom

In a protected gully I saw one wild ginger flower blooming at the base of the plant's leaf stems. These unusual flowers are often covered with leaf litter and are not readily visible. Most of the Bloodroot flowers, one of the first ephemerals to bloom, were protected by their large leaves but one was partially open in the chilly afternoon air. The large colonies of these plants found in the few woodlots that remain in the city are likely hundreds of years old. 

There is no better place to walk on a cold, windy day than the woods. The trees offer a wind break and rain puddles are rare as the ground absorbs water readily. Trees are important in moderating temperatures, cleaning the air and releasing moisture from the ground into the atmosphere. Our paved and cemented cities hold the heat in the summer and increase our susceptibility to drought. I watch sadly as our city grows on all sides with more roads, houses and  industries and fewer mature stands of trees. We have lived in our neighbourhood for over forty years and the seedlings that were planted in the 1970s are not full grown yet. 

I can hope for many more seasons of spring buds in woodlands like this.

Earth Day 2022

Female Pileated Woodpecker

Over the years I have taken time to explore a natural area on Earth Day, and in 2013 it also became the anniversary of Mom's passing. Mom always had faith in an eventual "new heaven and a new earth". Growing up in the 1960s during the Cold War, it wasn't hard to imagine that this earth was on the verge of destruction and that a time of tribulation was imminent. As a youth, I wondered why people continued to have children if the world was such a wretched place. These days I maintain hope for the future and want to act responsibly in caring for the earth so our children and grandchildren can enjoy the beauty of this planet. The conveniences of modern life, especially the ones we enjoy in first-world nations, have a significant impact on the environment. During my bicycle travels today, I saw too many discarded coffee cups, plastic bags and bottles, and styrofoam take-out containers littering the roadside. This is just one small sign of the wasteful over-consumption of our society

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

My bird count for 2022 continues to grow and I was pleased to find some birds that were scarce last April. Today I explored a natural area close to our home which is now completely surrounded by new houses and a large industrial basin. 

The park is far busier as people from nearby homes walk their dogs and take their children to play in the open spaces. It is more difficult to find birds when there is a lot of human activity but it was good to see families outdoors enjoying nature. 

I found three different woodpecker species in close proximity including a female Pileated Woodpecker who was working on a nest, and the beautiful Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker on the right. The Flicker was high in a tree and I was facing the sun with my camera, making the yellow underwing feathers glow golden in the sunlight. There are two subspecies of Northern Flickers;- the Red-shafted which is more common west of the Rockies and the Yellow-shafted which is prevalent to the east and far north of the continent. All of the woodpeckers were vocalizing loudly and it was not hard to find them amongst the dead trees in a swampy area. 

Male Hooded Merganser

Some of the birds in the swamps and creeks were stealthy and more difficult to see as they blended in with the landscape. A pair of Hooded Mergansers swam in the reeds. Our city is gradually naturalizing local creeks that had previously been channelled into cement ditches and large steel water mains. 

This wetland has been divided into communicating ponds similar to the way beaver dams create ponds in streams. There used to be a beaver dam here but the beaver appears to have relocated. In between two factories, it is an ideal spot for water birds and I have seen Ospreys, Great Egrets and Red-necked Grebes here along with a variety of ducks.

Tree Swallow

I have not seen Eastern Bluebirds here for at least three years, and last year there were very few Tree Swallows using the nesting boxes. Today there were many Tree Swallows flying around and pairing off as they begin another breeding season. The weather has been very cold recently which creates problems for birds who are insect eaters. But the sun was warm and flying insects were starting to move about.

The pandemic set things back in reducing the use of single-use plastics. The amounts of waste generated in the hospital;- disposable gloves, masks. plastic containers of disinfectant and cleaning supplies, etcetera are enormous. But there are other things I can do on a personal level to reduce my environmental footprint. Enjoying a day like today motivates me to try harder to reduce waste, buy less, eat local and sustainable foods, and plan driving trips more carefully. 

My motivation!

New generations of children will depend on us to make positive changes for their future.

FOY birds seen today:

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Chipping Sparrow

Tree Swallow

 

Nine Years Later...

Mom on Atlantic Ocean crossing #3 with my brother Nathan and me- 1959

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight
to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying…

*Rev. Luther F. Beecher  "The Parable of Immorality"

I published this poem on my previous blog on April 22, 2014, one year after my mother's death. Today marks the ninth anniversary of her passing and I still feel the void she left. These beautiful words still bring me comfort and remind me of her love of travel and adventure. She had an optimistic and energetic approach to whatever came her way in life and had a positive influence on my brothers and me that lasts to this day. We remember and honour her on this day.

*These words are often attributed to Henry Van Dyke but the prose poem was actually written by Luther F. Beecher, a cousin of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Sharing Christ's Divine Nature

I had to do a training module at work on the topic of unconscious bias. The test was easy even though only about 25% of my attention was focused on the very dull video presentation. But it will require a lot more effort on my part to truly address the unconscious biases that I know I have. Some of the unconscious social biases discussed were;-

Affinity Bias: We gravitate toward people who are like us in appearance, belief and background and find it easy to criticize, mock and dislike people who are not like us.

Confirmation Bias: We tend to interpret and recall information in a way that supports our prior beliefs and values

The Halo and Horn Effects: These cognitive biases are based on first impressions. We make a snap judgement of the person’s character and ability based on a positive (Halo) or negative (Horn) impression. Charismatic, attractive people are often judged to be capable even if they have deep character flaws. Others are judged negatively based on things like their sex, weight, skin colour, clothing, age and religion.

Authority Bias: We believe what people in authority tell us without any critical thinking. Following the leader is not always a bad thing but can lead to disaster, especially if we choose a leader based on one of the previously described biases. Authority bias is used in advertising as experts and celebrities promote certain products and YouTube is full of “experts” who promote a broad range of ideas.

To deny that we have unconscious biases would be a lie as humans are tribal by nature and are wary of outsiders. Managers look to hire people who fit in with the team rather than risking someone who may challenge the status quo.

Over the years I worked with a very diverse group of employees from many different cultures, religions, social backgrounds and ages. At work, we got along well and shared food and stories, but I cannot say that I have had close friends who are much different from me. It isn’t just me as people from other groups also tend to gravitate toward people like themselves.

This Easter weekend we observe the death and resurrection of Jesus. From the gospel accounts, we read how he was friends with people from all walks of life, a behaviour that brought criticism from the religious and ruling elite. His inclusiveness of women, the poor and sick, tax collectors, Samaritans, Roman soldiers and sinners of all kinds- as well as his unbiased proclamations eventually led to his death. The crowds who called for his crucifixion surely had heard of his teaching and miracles. I wonder if I would have chosen the follow the counter-culture teachings of the Messiah had I lived then. Most Christians today, at least in North America, are born into their faith system and show strong affinity and confirmation biases. Many have not questioned or grown in their faith at all.

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The epistle of Second Peter starts with these words.

"This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ... God has given us everything we need for living a godly life...  These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature." (ref)

This is the same Peter who was known for his hot-headed ways and his three-time denial of Jesus before the crucifixion. His attempt at walking on water did not succeed because of his fear and doubt. Jesus had to rescue him from the waves. His faith was not certain but it grew as he became the rock on which the early church was built.

In the same chapter of his epistle, he describes the steps to a mature faith, starting with knowledge and ending with "brotherly affection with love for everyone" NLT.

The way of Christ is paved with kindness and love for all mankind, not just those who we would choose to receive his grace and mercy. 

April Nest Building

My birding excursion a few days ago started at the site of the Bald Eagle nest a few kilometres from our home. A friend led us to this aerie in 2014 and for the past eight years, I have returned a few times each season to check on the birds. I needed binoculars to see the Bald Eagle sitting on the eggs in the nest. The nest is very large now as new sticks are added each year but the skinny pine tree that it tops continues to support the growing weight. Another eagle soared high above but I did not see the parents exchange nesting duties. I checked a few Osprey nest sites but did not see any activity yet. Bald Eagles over-winter here but Osprey are migratory and are just returning. 

Other birds, such as Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadees, House Wrens, and various woodpeckers are cavity nesters. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows sometimes compete for the same nesting boxes, but Bluebirds arrive earlier and they claimed this box at the edge of a meadow.

I parked at the side of the gravel road and used my car as a blind to take these pictures. This female Eastern Bluebird has been banded at some point in time. 

This large meadow is also home to other birds who lay their eggs on the ground. I took this picture of a Killdeer nest a few years ago and Meadowlarks and Bobolinks also lay eggs on the ground in this area. Killdeers and Meadowlarks are engaged in nesting activities now and Bobolinks should return in May. 

Across the road is a large bog where other birds are nesting or preparing to nest at this time. This Canada Goose was camouflaged on its mound. Male Red-winged Blackbirds were establishing their territories before the females return later this month. Sandhill Cranes also are actively nesting now and they were calling noisily in the distance.

Birds observed in this area: 

Eastern Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Eastern Meadowlark, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-tailed Hawk, House Wren, Common Merganser, Black Duck

(bird count for the day was 29 species)

Motion is Lotion

Two "mature females" doing Pilates

I assessed a patient in the emergency department who disclosed to me that they had six joint replacements;- two knees, two hips and two shoulders. They were in their early 70s and had spent most of their retirement years having one surgery after another. The surgeries had been generally successful and the patient told me that their clinic physiotherapist always said, "Motion is lotion." This person was determined to do some travelling and lead an active life again.

My hip replacement is 3-1/2 years old and that surgery was a great success. I have two knees that are like bad brakes with no brake pads. I was to have a knee replacement in 2020, but have fallen off the list with the huge surgical backlogs due to COVID-19. And I am not so sure that I want a knee replacement right now.

Immobility is my nemesis. Taking a few steps after prolonged sitting or first thing in the morning is often uncomfortable. But once I start moving, my joints limber up and feel somewhat normal. Riding my bike is easier on my joints than walking on the pavement even though I enjoy walking on dirt trails with my Activator poles. The other activity I do regularly is a twenty-minute Pilates routine. Our 11-year-old dog, Raven, has enjoyed Pilates since she was a pup! In truth, she likely thinks it is fun to have a human on the floor with her doing movements she can copy. In human years, Raven is 77 but she runs and moves like a creature half her age and is far more nimble than me.

Muscle and joint pain can leave us fearful of moving or it can encourage us to keep moving. The latter is the solution to at least 80% of musculoskeletal problems. I had another patient this week who was admitted with sciatica so severe that they could not take a step on the affected leg without their knee giving out. I gave them a frame walker and made them get out of bed and move. The next morning, the patient was moving well enough with the walker that they could go home. Their X-rays and scans showed normal age-related wear and tear on the spine and they will undoubtedly make a full recovery in a few weeks. They did the right thing by coming to the hospital to rule out a more sinister diagnosis, but after they were cleared it was time to get up and move through the pain.

Daily physical activity is essential and motion is lotion. I must remember this myself the next time I want to sit and binge-watch a Netflix or Britbox series. 

Birding by Ear- Spring 2022

April 6, 2022, near the Grand River at Blair ON- Dogwood and Willows colour the landscape

Robins returned to our neighbourhood about a month ago and the weather since then has been marginally spring-like and generally winter-like. The frozen and often snow-covered ground does not yield any grubs or worms and groups of Robins are gathering under shrubs in protected areas where they scrounge for old freeze-dried berries. Yet every morning as I leave for work at dawn, a Robin sits on a tree above the driveway singing its heart out. Some people complain about noisy birds in the morning and evening but birdsong is my favourite playlist, including the calls of grungy blackbirds. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I went birding today, checking out my favourite spots and counting species as I walked trails along rivers, meadows and swamps. At my first stop, I heard two Red-bellied Woodpeckers calling from high above me and it took me a while to find them. One of them was excavating a new nest as its mate called back and forth from a higher branch. When I left over an hour later, they were still hard at work constructing their spring home.

Song Sparrow and Northern Cardinal

Song Sparrows and Northern Cardinals are easy to spot in the spring as they sing and call loudly from treetops in an effort to establish their nesting territories. These open displays are not without risk as I have watched a Cooper's Hawk catch a male Cardinal mid-song. Nature seems cruel at times, but that does not stop these birds from singing. I follow their voices and find them posed beautifully for a picture.

Short video of Dark-eyed Junco's Spring Song

I heard a trilling bird song in a thicket and did not recognize the call at all. It reminded me of a Pine Warbler song that was not quite right. Thankfully my phone was able to record the song but before I left, I saw a Dark-eyed Junco in the bush as it sang the song. I have never heard a Junco's spring song. These little sparrows migrate to our area in the winter but move north again to nest in April. In the winter they make quiet whistling sounds that are barely audible as they forage on the ground for seeds. This song could be heard across the field. It is difficult to get a good picture of a Junco, especially in poor light but I captured an image of this male as he sang a song that was larger than his body.

Many birds have different songs in the spring as they mark their territory and communicate with their mates. In late winter and spring, the Black-capped Chickadee uses the "fee-bee" song of two notes with a descending minor third instead of the more familiar "chicka-dee-dee-dee" call.

I have many more bird songs to learn which is one of many reasons that I never walk outdoors listening to music or podcasts on my phone. The sounds of nature are far more compelling to my ears.

April 6, 2022- Bird list from this trail by the Nith River, Ayr ON: (17 species)

Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Am. Robin, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Cardinal, Am. Crow, Common Grackle, Eur. Starling, Song Sparrow, Mallard Duck, Canada Goose, Dark-eyed Junco, Mourning Dove, Trumpeter Swans, Herring Gulls

Lessons in Appropriate Non-compliance

Little Miss P.'s Family

I learned at an early age that obedience to my parents, teachers, and adults in our family and church was essential. Disobedience led to inevitable punishment. The strap was still used in school and I remember having my hands whacked with a ruler by a teacher when I gave a wrong answer. Our parents firmly believed in corporal punishment as did the parents of most of the children I knew. My childhood was safe and happy and like most Baby Boomers, I enjoyed certain freedoms, such as playing in the neighbourhood with minimal supervision. I did not suffer physical abuse in my home or community for which I am grateful. 

We moved to a new city when I was in the middle of grade 11 and I was far behind in mathematics and French. I dropped French but stayed after school for extra math tutoring. My math teacher, Mr. J., always sat too close to me in those after-class sessions. I remember he smelled like cigars and made me feel very uncomfortable. It was twenty-four years later in 1994 while still a teacher at the same school, that he was convicted and jailed for several counts of sexual abuse of students. In 1970, no one had ever discussed the potential of sexual abuse by teachers or other people known to me. Abusive relationships in marriages, families, churches, schools and workplaces were not topics of discussion at that time. And I don't remember discussing these things with my children when they were young. 

I have learned to be less compliant these days. Retail clerks sometimes ask for my postal code, email address or phone number when I go to the cash register. I will not give personal information just because a store asks for it and I sometimes get an incredulous look from the cashier when I refuse. I have learned to say "No" to other things without giving any excuses. And I would certainly teach a child from a very young age that they can say "No" to an adult in specific circumstances. Teasing and bullying a child, even in jest gives a message that the child cannot win against a persistent aggressor. A child does not have to share what belongs to them just because an older person compels them to do so. As a child and teenager, I learned to be an expert liar in order to avoid being punished, something I am not proud of. I wanted my children to be honest and trusting of me and let them know that if they told me the truth, I would not punish them. They did keep things from me, and likely still do, but I hope that I can be trusted to share any concerns they may have. 

Thankfully, child abuse, marital abuse, sexual abuse, elder abuse, and other types of abuse are discussed openly now and the pervasiveness of emotional, physical and sexual abuse in homes, churches, schools, sports teams, and workplaces in the past and present is well known. Yet we still tend to dismiss things that make us uncomfortable. Last week a young coworker described a patient who consistently made rude sexual remarks to female staff members. He said something very inappropriate to her and she regretted not telling him that his remarks were not welcome. My workplace has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of staff, whether from patients, families or co-workers, but we still worry about being labelled as a troublemaker for reporting instances of abuse. 

I want my granddaughter and grandson to grow up safely as confident and intuitive decision-makers, knowing they have personal autonomy. Their mom is great at allowing them to make reasonable choices around things like food and clothing preferences. I don't force them to give me affection or attention and show them respect when they make a decision on their own. I hope we can have candid discussions about consent and safety as they get older. Obedience and compliance are important...at times, but not all the time.