BLOG FOR GERALD HICKMAN — DECEMBER 3RD, 2018

HI, I really appreciate all you good folks who are reading my blogs! Thank you so much. It is December third and I just had a fun day in the Channeled Scablands, I drove the Palouse Scenic Byway from Cheney to Rosalia to Colfax to Pullman and then to Moscow, Idaho.

I observed many raptors on my road trip today. In the south, I found kestrels or sparrow hawks, still not too much snow to hide their favorite prey species such as voles, meadow mice and migratory song birds. When the snow comes in drifts and depth enough to cover the winter wheat from the winter cold, then all the raptors (redtailed and rough-legged hawks, kestrels, falcons, the the Northern Shrikes and even snowy Owls) will travel farther south to find habitat
where the prey is still seen without the snow banks and drifts. It is a leap frog type of thing, as
the birds go to the food where the snow and weather are easier to hunt.

At the same time, we humans are tied to our regular habitat at the misery of the Winter
Gods who hit the Channeled Scablands with ice, snow and winds. Our only hope is to occasionally travel to the south just as the migratory song birds and their predators do to find
areas still open with food, cover and a chance to store up enough foods to create fats and energy to move as the climate and local environment dictate.

This is a trip I like to make several times each season to monitor the predators and their prey each year. Today, I had a Wendy’s hamburger and coffee for my lunch. What a good day and a pleasant trip. Hope to have as much fun tomorrow !! God loves us all !