Tuesday, September 6, 2011

After the Storm

A Great Blue Heron looking stunned: how is a bird that hunts by sight supposed to find prey in this muddy soup?.  After hurricane Irene most streams and ponds in Southern Vermont look like this, carrying suspended soil from neighbors' backyards, farms and fields, along with sewage and waste.


Vermont's road map looks like a torn spider web. The flash floods have destroyed bridges, undermined roads and  broken up the asphalt into so many scrambled pieces. Most townships and villages have been affected in one way or other since many roads in a mountainous state like Vermont are built alongside streams. Many communities are still isolated and can only be reached over treacherous make-shift roads. In addition to carrying away houses and life stock the storm hit at the top of the harvest season, destroying field crops and orchards.




The Mallard Ducks seem to be making out alright.



Roadside leaves caked with silt



A lone crayfish, stranded by the receding flood,  marches along a dry dirt path....



until a predator spots him.



Cheers and Good Birding!


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24 comments:

  1. Dawn FineSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    I have been reading about the devastation..what a big mess. hope to see you soon at one or both of the BwBTC meet ups.

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  2. GuySeptember 6, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Hi Hilke

    It is really interesting to see the aftermath of Irene from a personal viewpoint, the news can only cover so much.

    All the best.
    Guy

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  3. Esther GarviSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Wow, that crayfish is impressive! How long can he live on land?

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  4. theconstantwalkerSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    It was awful watching the news about the damage Irene caused Hilke...
    I was so pleased to hear you were Ok via Facebook.
    Texas is now a news story... I hope they get some rain soon.

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  5. UnknownSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    What a tragedy!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  6. SpringmanSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    A stunning post Hilke. Its tough to live through the aftermath of a disaster. I caught a story out of Vermont how legislation was being considered to make it unlawful to run ATV's on public land but since the bridges and roads have been washed out the noisy little four wheelers have jumped up to save the day and that ordinance is being reconsidered.
    I sure don't think it gets much worse than flooding though. We wish you much strength to deal with this nasty situation. I know the folks of Vermont to be tough minded and will work together to keep everyone safe! Hang in there Hilke my thoughts are with you!

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  7. jooSeptember 6, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    It's horrible what happened to you! Good that it's over and you're OK.
    Great post.
    j.

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  8. fjällripanSeptember 6, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    So terrible, I can not imagine how it should be if something like that should happen...Great post!

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  9. KellySeptember 6, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    ...my heart goes out to everyone affected in Vermont and on the east coast. Such a rough road ahead of you! Glad you are doing okay...

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  10. eileeninmdSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    It is sad the damage Irene has left in her path. Looks like the birds are managing. I am glad you made it thru the storm OK.

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  11. mickSeptember 6, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    I read about the terrible damage the storm and rain did. It's good to see that some of the birds survived and are still out looking for food.

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  12. ArijaSeptember 6, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    How sad to read and see my favourite state so affected. My daughter was driving from NH to Maine where she was teaching, right into the path of the hurricane. I did not think it was so wild since she said it was like the storms we get here. Once when we left Vt, it was declared a national disaster area with a 5' snowfall but raging water is another matter as a destroyer. Roads and bridges can be rebuilt but losing your crops can be devastating to farmers.

    Poor bedraggles heron and I pity the crayfish destined to become someones meal.

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  13. Stewart MSeptember 7, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    Hi there - Floods bring such a mess with them - there's no two ways about it!

    Large parts of our state - and ones further north have had bead floods this winter - but no close to us, thankfully.

    Hope you can get some help to clean up.

    Good luck! Stewart M - Australia

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  14. DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVESeptember 7, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Hello! All the bests! But the photos are very good...I decided to follow Your blog...

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  15. Hilke BrederSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful comments. We are living on a hill, high and dry, and have not suffered any damage. But the lives of friends and neighbors have been devastated. Crops gone or plowed under due to contamination, milk wasted because of road closures, businesses ruined due mud and water damage....the list goes on and on. Thankfully communities are holding together and helping each other; everyone is chipping in. Even AT&T has set up a temporary communication tower and distributed cell phones, so people could stay in touch. We are a generous people.

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  16. PatSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    My heart goes out to the people and wildlife coping with the aftermath of Irene. I know the good people of your beautiful state will help each other to recover over time. Your photos give us on site documentation of the tragic results.

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  17. Jen SanfordSeptember 7, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    Wow, such a mess... Hopefully the birds will adapt and survive!

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  18. jeanlivingsimpleSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    My thoughts were with you while this storm was raging. Major happy that y'all are safe. Thanks for the photo update!!!

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  19. TexWisGirlSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    i am sorry for the storm damage your state and others have endured from these storms. and yet here in texas, we yearn for your rains... mother nature is more cruel than ever this year, doling out extremes in every direction. :)

    thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment about the Texas scenes. really appreciate it! God bless you!

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  20. Gerry Biron and JoAnne RussoSeptember 8, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    looks like you were at the springfield dam. did you see the am golden plover? it blended it really well along the bank.

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  21. Adam TiltSeptember 8, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    You don't get a true appreciation for the impact these events have until you read a personal viewpoint such as this. I hope you and your neighbours are ok.

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  22. Sallie (FullTime-Life)September 8, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Hilke-- I hadn't realized you lived in Vermont. Your pictures and words bring home the on-going problems far better than I've realized from listening to NPR (where I mostly get my news, don't watch much TV coverage because I get too depressed -- not just by the weather),

    I hope for things to improve as soon as possible. And glad you are OK and hope you can continue to get out and get some pictures.

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  23. CarlettaSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    A wonderful photo essay with a surprise ending! :)
    It will be awhile before we can forget Irene and her vast destruction. Not to make light of all that happened but thank goodness she wasn't the force they expected her to be. I shutter to think what things could have been like.

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  24. ChrisSeptember 9, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    I hope you are doing fine and that this tormy weather will stop as well as the flooding... EBautiful post Hilke and I love the lonely crayfish ;-)

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