# Today in nature I saw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854 "2020-07-20T18:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 153
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3044 "2024-05-01T15:35:37Z")
We’ve always had tons of song birds. But this year I’ve noticed a lot more crows than usual. Not sure why. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3045 "2024-05-01T17:25:00Z")
What a cool looking bird! We now have enough cicadas that there is a constant low hum outside. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3046 "2024-05-01T17:37:48Z")
They’ve not come out in Middle TN, yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3047 "2024-05-01T18:56:24Z")
Do they eat cicadas? Though it’s kind of early for that to be a big factor. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3048 "2024-05-02T19:27:16Z")
This afternoon I saw a bee swarm! In the middle of Berlin, just in from of my window! They settled on the tree just 10 yards from where I was standing and after less than 30 minutes two apiculturists came with white bee-suits and collected them in a box (actually, they are still doing something there, I think they are not doing it well). There are numerous beekeepers in the city – Berlin is quite green for a big city – but it is the first time I ever saw a bee swarm looking for a new home. It was impressive, and the buzz was loud! I was so fascinated that I forgot to take a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3049 "2024-05-02T21:41:08Z")
Yeah - ain’t it the weirdest thing? Not at all what you expect. I posted about seeing this last year, [#2293/2295](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/2295). I took a photo, so I guess I was about a meter away. Last night in nature… we had a forecast for thunder overnight. I was watching TV, idly wondering what the continuous rumbling noise outside was, so I took a peek. Uh - continuous lightning (!) I mean, a thunder storm goes _Flash…pause…Rumble… long pause… Flash_ - and so on, right? I counted - the longest gap between flashes was six seconds, with about 20 to 30 flashes per minute - hence the continuous rumble of thunder. Never seen anything like it. And - I can’t explain this - it never even occurred to me to take some video. I can only apologize. j ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3050 "2024-05-02T21:55:44Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > A couple of hours later - and the swarm was gone. Mixed feelings about that. Do I want several thousand bees camped out in my yard? No. Would I have liked to see them rescued and removed to safety? Of course. I hope that’s what eventually happened. > > j That is it! (The picture) Strange, I follow this thread regularly but I had no recollection of your post from as recent as May. But be assured, the swarms (“yours” and “mine”) were rescued and removed to safety, that is a human managed and taken care of wooden bee hive. A young freshly swarmed queen is a valuable resource and dedicated beekeepers will try to keep her and her workers happy for many years. In Europe this will happen in a sedentary way, as surely is the case in the UK too: where the bees are brought, they stay. You probably know that in the USA beekeeping has a more industrial, itinerant side, but [I post this link](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/migratory-beekeeping-mind-boggling-math/) for the readers here that perhaps don’t know that the beekeeping industrial complex that is described there is not practised anywhere else that I know of. And my excuses should this be trivial. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3051 "2024-05-03T00:13:28Z")
Speaking of bee swarms. I didn’t see this, but quite a lot of other people did > **[Swarm of bees delays Dodgers-Diamondbacks game for 2 hours in Arizona](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bees-dodgers-diamondbacks-game-delayed-2-hours-arizona/)** > > After beekeeper Matt Hilton removed the swarm, the Diamondbacks had him throw out the first pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3052 "2024-05-03T09:09:34Z")
I saw an echidna, just shuffling along in a church carpark. A fair way from any bushland, too. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3053 "2024-05-03T15:44:41Z")
It’s cicadageddon out there! [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53696212533_c855760262_b.jpg "\_DSC4572") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/197666118@N08/53696212533/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3054 "2024-05-03T15:50:39Z")
That’s really cool. I hope it was okay. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3055 "2024-05-03T15:51:43Z")
^Showed this to my gf and she is all excited. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3056 "2024-05-03T16:37:20Z")
They’re covering our entire back fence. Here’s one coming out of its shell: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53696111566_e8d310f27b_b.jpg "\_DSC4579") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/197666118@N08/53696111566/in/dateposted-public/) I saw it when I went out to check the bird feeders and found they were still full. I don’t think I’m going to have to check again for a while. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3057 "2024-05-03T21:04:57Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > ^Showed this to my gf and she is all excited. This explains _soooo_ much! ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3058 "2024-05-04T22:53:30Z")
I see that spot. Know that in these parts some people use those just as spots to watch critters and shoot pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3059 "2024-05-05T18:46:07Z")
And so it begins… [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53700172006_28861eaef0_b.jpg "20240505\_095024") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/190534151@N04/53700172006/) [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53700610290_2be0ced6ca_b.jpg "20240505\_095021") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/190534151@N04/53700610290/) [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53700172161_1fe063799c_b.jpg "20240505\_095016") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/190534151@N04/53700172161/) ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3060 "2024-05-08T15:02:11Z")
[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/Jdb2bLi.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/scMWZbY) They were about 20 yards from my truck when I took the house dog out for potty this morning, and were kind enough not to move off the property altogether before I got out to the truck to head to work. Bulls have all shed their antlers now, so it looks like all cows, but I do know there are at least 3 bulls in this herd. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3061 "2024-05-09T14:29:28Z")
The trees are just starting to open their leaves, my daffodils are blooming, the grass is green, I can smell the Balm of Gilead (balsam poplar), the frogs and birds are singing, it’s light out until 8:30 (so far), and the sun starts peeking out around 5am. It just a glorious feeling! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3062 "2024-05-09T15:17:56Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > it’s light out until 8:30 (so far), and the sun starts peeking out around 5am. It just a glorious feeling! Yes!!! Last night my gf visited her mom. I fixed dinner for myself around 7, took it to the pond along with the dogs. Had a lovely evening watching it slowly get dark. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/3063 "2024-05-09T15:34:14Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > The trees are just starting to open their leaves, my daffodils are blooming, the grass is green, I can smell the Balm of Gilead (balsam poplar), the frogs and birds are singing, it’s light out until 8:30 (so far), and the sun starts peeking out around 5am. It just a glorious feeling! And I can’t get on my bike with my back currently. 😡 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=152) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=154)