SOAKER OF A SATURDAY. Rain will be the highlight again today, along with wind as much of the day ends up doused and gusty, particularly the afternoon – great if you’re a duck hunter kicking off the season. We tackle that and concerning reports of bird declines throughout the continent over the last half century in our Outdoors Roundup.
Featured Photo: Even small wetlands are holding ample water this time of year. Simonson Photo.
WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today: Sat 9/21 – Still Wet – Hi 64, Lo 55, Wind NW@25, G40, .5” Rain
Tomorrow: Sun 9/22 – Nicer of Two – Hi 68, Lo 48, Wind W@9, G18
SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):
Sunrise Sunset
7:28AM 7:43PM
Moonrise Moonset Overhead Underfoot
11:58PM 3:00PM 7:03AM 7:30PM
Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous (54% Full)
EDGE HOUR: 7:00-8:00AM. With lighter winds and less chance of rain, sunrise with moon overhead should spark some activity for time on stand or on the water in our Edge Hour
DAY RATING:
OUTDOORS ROUNDUP:
BYE BYE BIRDIES. A CBS News story that borders on terrifying shows the rapid loss (biologically and geologically speaking) of nearly 3 BILLION birds in the last 50 years throughout the U.S. and Canada, amounting to nearly 30 percent of the pre-1970 population. Hit especially hard by climate change, landscape manipulation and other factors, grassland birds such as the meadowlark have seen their North American populations cut in half in the last 50 years.
DEFINITE DUCK DAY. It’ll feel like duck opener with today’s wind, rain and cool temperatures and the NDG&F Dept. highlights the superb conditions of the region’s prairie potholes with ample water in most sloughs throughout the state (more on that below) for the start of the season. Take ‘Em!
WE’RE OUT. With last week’s rain (and today’s), any hint of a drought has been wiped clear from the U.S. Drought Monitor for North Dakota. For the first time since the super-dry spring and summer of 2017, the state is not registering any area of “abnormally dry” or worse.
