Nature is Solar Powered

Being human, I find it hard to believe that everything that has ever lived derived its energy from the sun, or thermal heat from the earth. Of course, that includes us. We burn petroleum products which came from plants that grew and got their energy from the sun. We have technology that plants and animals don’t have, as far as we know. Some of our abundant animal friends here in Tangerine Woods use solar power in ways we are not able to appreciate. Reptiles, like alligators, snakes and the gopher tortoise are cold-blooded creatures. When they are cold and the sun is not available, they seek shelter until it returns. Until then, they move slowly and are easily caught by predators. When it’s morning, they come out and warm in the sun. Once warm, it’s off to do whatever they do with their time. Those anoles, incorrectly called geckos, that we see zipping about are a great example. If you can chase one, and it can’t find safety from the beast, that’s you, it will soon stop running. It has used up the solar energy it had stored. Basically, its battery is dead. You can reach down and pick it up, smile at it, and set it down to recharge.

All these animals are in balance with nature. They start as an egg, they live, they reproduce (maybe), and in the end, they pass back into the biosystem without leaving a trace. The same as humans, except for that last part. I’m not faulting humans for this, after all, we have technology. We have the ability to prevent leaving those traces of our having been here. I think the main problem is that we expect our kids to do that for us. That’s why we leave whatever is in our wills for them. There I go, ranting about the human condition again. I’m sure it will all work out. Nature will find a way (Jeff Goldblum).

Now that I have that said, I was thinking today as I rode the golfcart with Ben along the lateral, just how little life there is to see there at present. Everyone has noticed that birds are at a modern low population. Also, almost all the gators have gone away. See you later, alligator (first published Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1952). What I took special notice of is the lack of fish. Last year, there were many schools of minnows, probably hoping to become big fish. The lack of these is likely the reason most of the big birds have flown away. We have two Great Blue Herons, and one Egret, also a King Fisher and a few small birds. A few turtles but only a small percentage of last year’s population. For the times, they are a-changin’ (Dylan). And we hope the change is for the better. Wait until next fall when we all return to see Tangerine Woods after a full year of recovery from Ian.

I try to present facts and express my thoughts responsibly without negative feelings. If I fail, feel free to comment to tangerinewoodsman@gmail.com.

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