A while back when our weather was so hot and dry, a friend told me she’d been hearing the call of a “rain crow” and asked me if I knew what kind of bird it was. She also said she had been seeing “sundogs” in the evening and that they were both supposedly predictors of rain. Now I remember when I was a kid, someone’s grandpa talking about a rain crow, or storm crow as he called it, and I knew absolutely zero about sundogs, but given their supposed rain prediction powers, I delved deeper.

I found numerous references to a “rain crow” and all seemed to agree that it was in fact a Yellow- Billed Cuckoo. Few, however wanted to stick their neck out concerning its rain prediction ability; one website tossed around the figure of 3 days from first hearing one until rain. Sundogs on the other hand, were quite a popular subject, and are ice crystals high in the atmosphere that, when sunlight shines through them can give the illusion of a second or third sun on each side of the actual sun. I’ve seen sun dogs a couple times over the years in the winter. But once again, however sundogs ties to predicting rain were sparse.

My search turned up so many proverbs and “old wives tales” concerning rain that I decided to enlist the help of Ross Jansen, Meteorologist at KWCH TV channel 12 and play an Exploring Kansas Outdoors version of Myth Busters. I read several rain prediction fables to Ross over the phone and got his take on each. Concerning sundogs, Ross says there is some correct science in tying sundogs to rain, in that the same ice crystals that cause them have the ability to form clouds containing rain. But as far as them predicting rain, Ross was hesitant to agree to that. Next I asked him about a ring around the moon predicting rain, and again he said that a ring around the moon indeed meant there was moisture at some level, but said it was so high up that the chance of it finding its way to us in the form of rain was nil.

“Red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky in morning, sailors take warning” is another widely quoted proverb about rain. Since weather patterns typically move across the country from west to east, the gist of the explanation is that a red morning sky means we are seeing sunlight through a weather system yet to come, while a red evening sky means we are seeing a weather system moving away from us. Ross said he has indeed noticed that morning thunderstorms often bring with them a red morning sky, and that there was again some correct science accompanying the tale. But also like the previous two fables, he felt it was a stretch to say that they actually predicted rain. We agreed to call these three myths SEMI-BUSTED.

Another proverb I found read “When grass is dry at night, look for rain before the light; when grass is dry at morning light, look for rain before the night.” This one uses the presence or absence of dew at certain times to predict rain. Ross says that the presence or absence of dew depends solely on night time temperatures and dew point temperatures and can find no link between them and a prediction for rain. We found this one BUSTED. The next was an Indian proverb that says “If the moon is red, of rain she speaks.” Ross says a red moon is red only because of smoke or dust; again BUSTED. Next I asked him about something I’ve always thought to be a rain predictor, that being the fact that birds fly lower and congregate on power lines just before a storm because the lower air pressure preceding a storm makes it tough for them to attain lift and fly. He debunked that also by telling me that when air pressure is low, the air as a whole actually rises; BUSTED again.

I could literally spend the next month cussing and discussing all the old time weather fables and proverbs I found while writing this piece. To those of you who put stock in any of the rain predictors I cast doubt upon, I’m sorry to have rained on your parade (yes, most certainly pun intended) even though I’m certain some of these hold true some of the time. Ross even says that his mom swears by an old tale that says it will rain 100 days after a fog; she even keeps track of it on her calendar. Maybe that will win me back some points and make you feel better again about your favorite weather tales knowing that the weather guy’s mom even believes them! …Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected]

Humans naturally seek happiness—some carry lucky charms or practice mystic rituals to attract it. Others find inviting blue birds to the yard does the job. Apparently, such choices aren’t unique to modern humans. For eons, world cultures have honored timid, sky-colored creatures as omens of good fortune.

Nearly 2000 years before Christ, Chinese storytellers wrote about a bluebird that delivered messages from the Queen Mother of the West, an immortal. Native American societies also celebrated these brilliantly-hued beings. Some tales associate them with the rising sun. In fact, the Navajo still sing the bluebird song as part of their winter Nightway Ceremony. European cultures, as well, included these beauties in literature involving a fairy-tale search for the bluebird of happiness.

Considering their history, it’s not surprising these pretty birds are beloved. Unfortunately, like many species, their habitat’s changing and invasive species increasingly compete for food and nesting sites. Residing on the prairie is even more difficult for this cavity dweller who seeks hollow trees or posts to set up housekeeping.

To complicate matters, the azure darts are finicky. They require nests a 100-yards distant from other hopeful parents and cleared landscape around their homestead. Healthy sparrow, sharp shinned, and Cooper’s hawk populations lurk close by, so a view increases survivability for adults and offspring. However, it makes it difficult to attract the picky rascals to nest near humans.

Despite these creatures’ suspicious natures, shrewd birders can entice them to live close enough to watch their broods mature. Visit a garden shop or online site to learn more about this species’ housing requirements. Carpenters can construct summer rentals designed specifically to attract them. Others can buy well-designed blue bird boxes.

Cedar siding offers a good structure choice. Craft a watertight roof and a floor with small drainage holes. Blue birds aren’t just harbingers of happiness. They’re tidy as well so select nesting structures with bottoms that easily open for spring cleanings. One source suggests leaving the inside unpainted rough wood to encourage easy fledging.

To discourage rival species, build or buy nesting boxes with entry holes no larger than 1 ½ inches wide. Starlings won’t fit in that opening. To further discourage invaders, exclude external perches. Blue birds don’t need them. They’re also satisfied with a 4” x4” nesting space, which is too small for competing sparrows. Conveniently, such units fit atop fence posts.

After offering species-specific housing, further improve the environment by providing shallow pans filled with fresh water. Place savory snacks nearby. Blue birds are insect and fruit eaters so don’t offer seeds. One authority recommended chopping berries into pieces or even offering meal worms as motivators to relocate. With plenty of live bugs and wild currant available, we’ve never bought treats.

Once you convince them to move in, the fun begins. Despite their shy nature, these heralds of joy are natural entertainers. Their aerial acrobatics turn insect catching into comic entertainment. Watch mom splash in the birdbath with her babes for twenty minutes of bliss. Observing them pop in and out of their tiny doorways as they feed young stills racing pulses and lowers human blood pressure.

It requires effort to convince blue birds to call your yard theirs, but once they move in, you’ll see why humans from the beginning of time have invited them to live nearby and woven them into their shared stories.

Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

It can happen to any of us. One week we feel fine, the next we’re overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, lethargy, even depression.  Or maybe a change in demeanor happens to someone we know or care about – our spouse or child may struggle with stress, depression or addiction. In fact, one in five American adults is affected each year by a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder.¹

Knowing how and where to get help for ourselves or others can be daunting. People experiencing mental health or substance use issues may be reluctant or embarrassed to seek help. Others are unable to find, get to, or afford care. In 2016, less than half of U.S. adults with a mental health condition received mental health treatment.²   The good news is that local mental health resources such as free confidential crisis phone lines and online support are available 24/7 to those in need.

Don’t overlook another possible option. People covered by employer-sponsored benefit plans often have access to mental health care. Support can range from confidential employee assistance programs – or EAPs – to help with connecting to a mental health provider for an in-person or online visit for personal issues such as depression, substance abuse, coping with grief and loss and medication management among other personal challenges.

Difficult mental health concerns can be dealt with in the same way other health care issues are addressed: making a call or going online and getting connected to care. To better understand what benefits and resources may be available to you, call the number on the back of your health plan ID card to talk to an advocate, or visit a dedicated member portal for information that may help you:

• Search for care options. Advocates and 24/7 online tools can provide information on where to find care near you. Many plans offer the option of seeing an in-network provider in person or scheduling a confidential virtual visit via a smartphone or computer.

• Understand the cost of care. While costs can vary, some mental health services are included in your health benefits plan. This could include seeking a referral or getting help to see an in-network provider which could result in savings.

• Shorten the wait-time to see an in-network provider. Some benefits plans can help members secure an appointment within five days.

Knowing where and how to get help for mental health issues is one of the best things we can do for ourselves or those we care about. Take a few minutes today and check into local crisis phone lines, 24/7 online support or available employer-sponsored benefits.

To be most effective in crisis situations, it’s important to remain calm and collected. If there are imminent safety concerns, the person should be transported to an emergency room (ER) if possible. If they are not safe for personal transport to the ER, calling 911 may be necessary.

For more information and links to mental health support resources in your area, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org or call the NAMI HelpLine at (800)-950-NAMI (6264).

1. National Institute of Mental Health. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml#part_154785

2. National Institute of Mental Health. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml#part_154790

Dr. Tony Sun, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare of Kansas.

 

 

 

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

When I’m tired and need some coffee, I know it’s time to go to the farmhouse. But if I lived at Meriden, I might go to a different type of farmhouse – spelled Pharm House, with a PH as in pharmacy. This Pharm House is a specialty coffee shop that the Farrant family created next to the pharmacy in Meriden. It’s another example of the Farrant family’s community spirit, which is helping the local school district and the broader community.

Last week we learned about Jake Farrant and Kansas Turf, his family-owned sports construction company in Meriden. Pat Happer, the school superintendent at Jefferson West High School in Meriden, provided additional information on this company’s benefit to the community.

Pat Happer grew up in Overland Park. He studied education at Emporia State and began his teaching career in western Kansas. He then became a school administrator in eastern Kansas. After serving as a principal in the Jefferson West School District, he became district superintendent in 2011. Pat lives in the rural community of Ozawkie, population 645 people. Now, that’s rural.

Pat knew Jake when Jake was a student and then as Jake became a local businessman. Jake was growing his turf installation business and also served as an assistant football coach at Jeff West High School. Unfortunately, the school’s natural grass football field had seen better days. Jake envisioned artificial turf on that field.

“When Jake started talking to me about artificial turf for the school, I thought, `Oh my, we just don’t have that kind of budget,’” Pat Happer said. “But Jake suggested that the school allocate to this project the same amount of money that was already going to be spent on the natural grass field, and he would work on private funding for the rest.”

The school board considered the idea, held an open forum to gather community input, and decided to proceed with the project. Jake contacted other businesses to donate to the project. He committed to install turf at a discount. The community stepped forward to make it happen.

Then a remarkable breakthrough occurred. Jake’s company was replacing turf for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. “I asked what they were going to do with the old turf, which was only a year old, and they said, `Oh, just store it somewhere,’” Jake said.

Jake contacted Pat Happer back at Jeff West to see if the school would be interested in that turf. In partnership with the school, he acquired the Saint’s year-old turf and installed it on the Jeff West High School field at a discounted rate. “It took 27 semis to transport all that turf,” Jake said. Of course, the NFL logo had to be cut out and removed and the Jeff West school logo installed.

Jake was thrilled to see the new turf on the field, but he also noticed a benefit to the community. “When we had a grass field, we had to lock it up to try to preserve the grass for the season,” Jake said. “Now it can be open for the community to use.”

“We were able to host our school’s community wellness night at the stadium,” Pat Happer said. “If it rained, it didn’t matter. We didn’t have to worry about mud.” Other sports can use it as well.

“They’ve done a lot of good things in the community, such as their day care,” Pat said of the Farrants. “After our local pharmacist passed away, they partnered with the hospital in Winchester to reopen the pharmacy. They purchased and remodeled a vacant building for the pharmacy and added a specialty coffee shop called the Pharm House. Bryce Farrant’s wife Chrissy manages the Pharm House and pharmacy.

“We are working to make our school district and community more attractive,” Pat said.

We commend Jake and Kysa Farrant, Pat Happer, and all those who are making a difference by working to make their community better. When you need coffee in this community, you can go to the Pharm House – and get your prescriptions right next door.

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.