the natural side

i'm in the flint hills of kansas, before things go flat, i'm told.  Flint is limestone and shale.  it's not to far under the surface, so this area has a fair amount of cattle ranches.  the hills are small, rolling and seem to come in ridges spaced relatively far apart.  the fields are green this time of year, apparently they burn the old pasture off in the winter.  in low areas there are tilled fields, the new plowed earth is dark and rich.  the hills are pleasant, especially the wave of green pasture against the sky.  the soil sloughs in a lot of places so there are gaping maws in the side of the hills, which creates a wonderful texture.

the original tallgrass prairie is gone except in a few places.  coming down the road, heading to the tallgrass nature reserve, i saw the light brown, straw colored hills in the distance, markedly different than the green.  it was the tall grasses.  the nature reserve was acres and acres of rolling hills, brown grass calf high, piles of cow and bison crap everywhere.

my old friends the redwing blackbirds are everywhere along the side of the road.  but there are plenty of new species i can't identify.  chris tells me the yellow breasted ones on the wires are western kings. haven't seen the split tail flycatcher, yet, or the the dickcissel, but i think i've heard it.  in the morning, in the tent, not being able to see, i could hear a number of new songs.  i  have seen some wonderfully rich colored indigo buntings and gold finches.  wish i had better eyes.