There are many more insects, birds and especially swallowtail butterflies this year. I'm not sure if it's a good sign or not. I am always suspicious of these things, thinking maybe the heat is pushing species farther north. The end of May and so far in June, it feels like late July with the heat. Anyway, I am enjoying these beautiful creatures that flutter in my yard by the dozens.

#swallowtail #butterfly #gardening #homesteading

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@mountainwitch North Central WV here and I feel the same way. It's a strange place/emotion to feel. Too bad we don't have a name for it in English.

I'm originally from coastal Southern California so I constantly complain about the weather here. It's either too hot and humid or too cold. The past several years, the snow has gone away. It gets cold and winter lasts extra long but no snow to speak of.

This year has been very weird so far. Months ago we had a flash heatwave into the 80s which brought out the unpleasant insects. Then back to winter which killed them.

For the past month we've had Southern California weather. I use to joke that we'd get only a few days a year of So. Cal. type weather. This year, it's been almost every day. Temps in the 70s with low humidity, lows in the 40s and 50s. Wonderful. Fabulous. And no mosquitos. I can walk outside any time including sundown and early evening, not a single mosquito bite.

I should be thrilled, right? I'm not because this is wrong. Yes, I'm taking advantage of sitting on the porch at 7 PM and not being eaten alive by bugs. But it's creeping me out. This is not normal for here. Something is going on.

Some long-term climate models show a swath from the Carolinas to Wisconsin, including West Virginia, becoming drier and drier, ultimately becoming desert. But that's 100 years from now. This is now.

I'm also not seeing bees, wasps, or flies. The only insect that seems normal is wood bees.

Birds seem okay, but fewer. I have several feeders and "my" birds are going through 10 to 20 pounds a week of feed. This is low. All the species are here, just not in normal numbers. I should see lots of cardinals, but I only only see one or two. The chimney swifts seem okay, but maybe 25 percent of the usual number of them. I have no idea what they're eating since I perceive no flying insects to eat.

I dunno. It's creepin' me out.

73 de KW2P

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