La Conicula

In the Hispanic tradition,  "La Conicula" begins on July 14 and ends on August 20.  This is the period know in the English world a "the dog days of summer".   Well we are certainly in the midst of those times here in Texas.  Drought covers the state from the panhandle to the Rio Grande and all areas in between.  We have just returned from a couple of days along the Frio River just north of Garner State Park.  In the forty years I have been going to this area I have never seen conditions like I observed this past week--the Frio at our cabin is down to a trickle and the big springs that have never run dry in the past 40 years have stopped flowing.  As Dr. Baron Richter correctly notes when he talks to Texas  Master Naturlaist groups "Texas is in a constant state of drought with occasional periods of rain."  I think Dr. Richter is on to something here.  While living at our ranch, La Mariposa near Realitos, Texas (in the sourthwestern courner of Duval County, I kept careful records of rainfall.  Average annual rainfall for this area is about 22 inches.  My records indicate that we had average amounts of rain in 6 of the 9 years.  The low was 16 inches in 2005 and the highest was 32 inches in 2003 followed by 28 inches in 2004.  While most of Texas is indicated by the National Weather Service to be at the highest level of drought, this area remains two stages below that level.  Last Saturday we had 4/10 of an inch and the first of July we had an inch.  This is more than much of the state, except for parts of East Texas.  What does all of this mean?  It means we will need a strong tropical storm to get us out of the dire conditions we face in Texas.   Farmers lost their crops, ranchers are forced to cull their herds and city dwellers are faced with water rationing.  We can only hope that we get some relief after La Conicula runs it course.

What impact has this had on wildlife?  One would have to conclude that the stress has had a significant impact on this year's breeding season.  And it will definately impact the winter population who will encounter less in the way of food to hold them over into the new year.  Christmas Bird Counts this year should provide some interesting data.