The Daily Bucket is a place to catch your casual observations of the natural world and turn them into a valuable resource. Whether it's the first flowers of spring or that odd bug in your basement, don't be afraid to toss your thoughts into the bucket. Check here for a more complete description.
I mean it. How about a hike? I'm proposing this coming Saturday (March 26) as the date for the first Daily Kos Day Hike. Your journey doesn't have to be long. For myself I'm planning a trip to Mastodon State Historical Site where I'll wander up the Limestone Hill Trail, a distance of only about 3.1 miles. To the embarrasment of my family, I'll likely wear a full 50+ pound pack on my back while doing this little day hike, because there's no time like the present to get your shoulders, feet, and gear ready for longer hikes in the next few weeks.
How about it? Can I tease you out of the house this week? Can we make this a regular monthly event? What do you think?
There's a mystery frog at my pond. While I've become used to the defeaning bell chorus of wood frogs, the ringing note of spring peepers, and the lower trill of the American toads, this is one I don't know. It's not the jug-o-rum of the bullfrog (that's still to come) or the sharper tone I associate with Leopard Frogs. This one is a two parter: a falling note followed by a trill that winds down into individual clicks. No idea what kind of froggy throat is producing that note, and as with most of them, my odds of actually seeing the culprit are slim to none.
We've had some exceptionally warm days lately and hit 70 before dawn this morning, but it looks like St. Louis is about to dip back to more seasonal temps. Still, the warmth has gone a long way in teasing out the plant life, with the pear tree now in full bloom.
How are things your way?
(Note: at work today, so map updates may be infrequent. Thanks.)
Today's observations come from these locations
Share your own observations in comments, and I'll add a marker to the map. Please give a city and state (as close as you feel comfortable in providing). Green pins for observations mostly about plants, brown for animals, and blue for weather or other inorganic items. The letter at the center of each pin will be the first letter of the user who provides the data.