Of Dragonflies, Monarchs & Spruce Grouse

Year 13,

Today was a great migration day … just not perhaps for hawks. Okay, I understand that Spruce Grouse do not migrate, but if you enjoy seeing amazing spectacles spend some time on the North Shore of Lake Superior between Duluth’s Lester River and Two Harbors. Folks already know I like Stony Point, but today anywhere along Scenic 61 resulted in amazing numbers where one found the combination of:

  • Protection from the strong NW Wind
  • Flowers
  • Safe place to stop your car

The strong NW wind blew both monarchs and dragonflies down against the shore in amazing numbers. In a few minutes one might see “tens” of monarchs & dragonflies. While most people know that Monarchs are long distance migrants, dragonflies are also migrating and often fly 80 to 100 miles south in one day. Eventually the monarchs reach Mexico (may take multiple generations); conversely dragonflies reach ponds in American’s Deep South through Central America. Once again this is a multiple generation migration. When the right pond presents itself, dragonflies lay eggs and their offspring will eventually fly north to Boreal ponds. Read more about the dragonfly migration via the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in NE Minnesota.

Oh yes … Spruce Grouse. Now is the time for the Moose rut. This morning I was inland well away from Two Harbors on boggy back roads well before sunrise. I was looking for Poppa Moose in various locations where I already know Bullwinkle hangs out. However, I saw no moose … just Spruce Grouse (which do not migrate).

Finally … this Pileated Woodpecker near my house wanted its photograph taken. I obliged.

Stony Point Bald Eagle Family

Year 13

A few days ago I excitedly posted about the small flock of Red-Headed Woodpeckers I watched which were migrating south along the North Shore of Lake Superior via Stony Point.  Yesterday morning at Stony Point it was time for the locals to perform. Year round a family of Bald Eagles calls Stony Point home. While most eagles migrate south, some in fact do stay north and this includes the “Stony Crew”.

Most mornings right at sunrise if the wind is not screaming in off the big lake, our resident eagles will be perched on the highest White Pine along Stony Point Drive. Such was the case yesterday morning just a few minutes post sunrise. It seemed as if the eagles, like many of us, were not ready to go get breakfast. Less than 100 yards distant I could hear their youngsters making their displeasure known. The juvenile eagles are to the point they mainly have to fend for themselves, but often Mom and Dad help.

Parent Bald Eagles on the White Pine

Take-Off of the Dawn Patrol

One of the Juvenile Bald Eagles

Parent & Child

Freedom in Precious: 25 Years Since 911 … One Family’s Story

Year 13,

Freedom is precious. As I start the typing of this post shortly after 6 am my local Great Horned Owls are serenading me with their hoots through the pre-dawn darkness. Their hoots are calming as I reflect back on this 25th anniversary of the 911 attacks. While this horrible event was (and still is) tragic for all Americans, for me the day was more personal than for many of my fellow citizens. My first cousin, also named “Richard” was killed in the attacks. He was a financial supervisor for AON Corporation and his place of employment was high up the 2nd World Trade Center Tower.

After watching the attack on the 1st World Trade Center Tower and then experiencing the attack on the 2nd tower, “Richard Fraser” took his team of employees and started to descend the stairwell. The group had well over 70 floors to descend. One of his team members was pregnant and getting close to her delivery data. This woman became tired during the descent, My cousin told his team to continue their descent and he would remain behind with his pregnant employee such that she might rest for a few minutes. Richard’s team made it out of the 2nd World Trade Center safely, while he and his pregnant co-worker were killed when the building collapsed.

I consider my cousin, Richard, a hero. He understood you did not leave people in need behind. He died because of his convictions. Thankfully he was able to use his mobile phone and call both his wife and mom (my Aunt) from his office before the group started their walk down the stairwell.

MY story now takes another twist. My own Mom, who was in the early stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s kept hearing how a family member, Richard, had been killed in the 911 attacks. In her muddled mind, she did not understand it was my cousin who had died, but rather she thought it was me, also named Richard, who had perished. My Mom became extremely quiet and would not talk for hours. Eventually my Dad figured out the problem as to why my Mom was so quiet. She thought her son, me, was dead. At the time I was working and living in the Minneapolis area. My Dad phoned me and said I needed to drive home, the 175 miles north to Duluth immediately, and visit my Mom. She needed to understand that her son, Richard, was still alive. Not surprisingly within minutes I was in my car and driving north.

Freedom in Precious!

In Memorian: Richard K. Fraser (killed in the 911 Attacks)

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By King of Hearts – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link