#2992 "February Winter Sunset at Jim Day Rapids"

#2992 "February Winter Sunset at Jim Day Rapids"
16 X 20 (inches).
Started at 10:30 am Monday, January 19th, 20026

The colours of a brilliant sunset peaked under the stratocumulus to reflect in the open water of Jim Day Rapids. I never get tired of this panorama! 

The open water in the current is essential for wildlife. Typically, 20 to 40 trumpeter swans call that home during the winter along with otters, mink, deer and transient ducks. The open water shrinks to just a few square meters when the temperatures dip into the minus thirties Celsius. The swans will then sleep on the ice with a few sentries posted to warn against potential predators. 

Those frigid temperatures are also essential for nature! A temperature of -29 °C is required to kill the larvae of the invasive spongy moth, lymantria dispar, a species native to Europe and Asia.  The moth was introduced into North America in 1869 as a potential source of silk to replace the shortage of cotton caused by the American Civil War. In 2022, the name was changed from the gypsy moth, which had been used since 1832, allegedly to be politically correct. Politics and the wars were the cause of the invasive species in the first place along with countless other problems. 

Recent severe outbreaks of the spongy moth have resulted in densities exceeding one million caterpillars per acre. Forest defoliation has been severe even at Singleton.  Climate change has contributed to longer spongy moth outbreak cycles, which typically occur every eight to twelve years. More frequent and severe environmental impacts have resulted. Forests need our assistance, and cold weather is an ally. So embrace those -29 °C temperatures. 

The open water of Jim Day Rapids after a winter cold spell...

Trumpeter swans spend a lot of time at Jim Day Rapids, even during cold outbreaks when there is not much open water. 

I use art to learn more science and vice versa. It was also fun to include our red chairs that overlook the beautiful Jim Day Rapids. Many of the world's problems, ranging from climate change to political corruption, have been decisively solved in those red chairs.

For this and much more art, click on Pixels or go straight to the Collections. Here is the new Wet Paint Collection. Thank you for reading, and stay well!

Warmest regards, and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick