Updraft: May 29, 2009 Archive

All it takes is one

Posted at 6:42 AM on May 29, 2009 by Craig Edwards (2 Comments)

The meteorological summer begins Monday, as does the hurricane season. The Tropical Storm Prediction Center of NOAA is forecasting about an average season of tropical cyclones. Their prediction includes the possibility of four to seven named storms with the risk of one to three category three or higher hurricanes.

Experience suggests that all it takes is one powerful storm in the Gulf to slam a highly populated area from Houston to Tampa to make it a memorable year.

NOAA Press Release on Hurricane Season

Your weekend in Minnesota shapes up to be not too bad. Random thundershowers dance across central sections, mainly later this afternoon and tonight. Dry and seasonal weather is on tap for Saturday, but you will notice the northwest winds in eastern Minnesota.

Hopeful that there may be enough convergence over central Minnesota on Sunday aftenoon to squeeze out some much needed rain. In the Twin Cities the best chance for strong thunderstorms comes between 4pm and 9pm.

Severe weather outlook for Sunday

CE

Drought brings strange bird to Independence backyard

Posted at 1:22 PM on May 29, 2009 by Paul Huttner (6 Comments)

Thirsty peacock visits Julie Larson's back yard in Independence.

This is one I had to see to believe.

I knew birds were drought stressed when I turned my sprinkler on at the Huttner Weather Lab Thursday and birds immediately started flocking from the trees for a drink. But I never saw a bird the like one above. All Things Considered producer Jeff Jones explains below. Thanks to MPR weather spy Julie Larson for the proof!

PH

At first, we didn't believe Julie Larson when she responded to our All Things Considered text message query about the effect of the dry weather in our listeners' back yards. Here's what she wrote: A peacock has surfaced in our yard and drinks from our bird bath!

I called her back and she insisted the sighting was for real. Could it be a wild turkey? No. If you've ever heard a peacock squawk, you'd know it's the real thing, she said. To further prove it, she sent us these photos of the colorful visitor -- which she has named Waldo ("So I can ask the kids, 'Where's Waldo?'", she says).

The Larsons live in a wooded area in Independence, MN -- about 25 miles west of Minneapolis. Julie says Waldo the Peacock visits frequently to drink from the bath and get some seeds at the Larson bird feeder. "He comes for three squares a day," she says. Just as songbirds appear after a lawn sprinkler runs, Julie suspects the dry weather is making it hard for Waldo to find water elsewhere. She's had coyotes in her yard, too, and she hopes (for Waldo's sake) they don't decide to visit at the same time.

I called our good friend and top-flight bird expert Carrol Henderson from the DNR, who's heard it all when it comes to Minnesota bird sightings. He confirmed that Minnesota is not along the typical peacock migration path (the birds are only native to South Asia and central Africa). He suspects Waldo escaped from a nearby hobby farm. Julie Larson says she knows of no such farms near her community. Until someone comes around to claim him -- or until we finally get some rain -- she'll keep filling up the bird bath so Waldo can beat the heat.

Links:
Good peacock info: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/peacock.html
Carrol's Web site: http://www.hendersonbirding.com/
Peacock YouTube video (NOT from Julie Larson), including sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MhZPqHeEAQ

Jeff Jones
Producer, "All Things Considered"
Minnesota Public Radio
651-290-1274
jjones@mpr.org