Migration Season???

Coming from the northern part of the United States, I grow up with four distinct season: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Then we moved to Ghana. When we first arrived I thought that there where only two seasons, Hot and Hotter! But since I have learned that there is much more to the weather here then I first thought.

Until today, I have discovered four basic seasons in Ghana. We have our heavy rainy season from May until July/ August. During this time it is very 'cold'. During this time Ghana gets most of it's rain, and it can rain for days at a time. After the heavey season has finished it is followed by the light rainy season. During this time, August to October, the days are hot with intense sun. The rains have cleared out all the smoke and pollution. But during this time, it rains almost every evening. Then we pass unto are Harmatan season. This is when the dry winds off the Sahara Desert sweep down into Ghana. The air becomes very dry and fills with dust. The dry air and strong wind almost give Kumasi a cold feeling. Then we pass into our last season, which is described in one word, DRY! The dry season is just that, no rain, dust every where, and intense heat. The sun is not as intense since the smoke and pollution hang in the air, but the air is much like an oven from January to April of the year.

But, today I discovered that we can add in another season to this list. It comes at the end of our night rainy season and happens until Harmatan arrives. It is... Migration Season! Yes, the time that all the little creatures come out and try to get the last bit of water that is left before they reproduce or go back north.

We have bats. In Northern America, we used to see flying geese or ducks in V-formation. Here we get another sight. When a person goes outside at night, right before dark, he will look into the sky and think he sees thousands of birds traveling east, but he is wrong, they are not birds, they are bats. These nice little mosquito eaters, are taking their yearly migration.

Then we have our Grasshopper/ Locust Migration. This one has been more noticeable this year. Today we went outside out house to find hundreds of locust all over the walls of our house. They are trying to mate before they die. We have even more this year, since our landlady hooked up two street lights in front of our house. At night the locust are everywhere.

These locust draw the magpies and African Brown Hawk. They love to eat them. It is amazing! We have about ten hawks circling the house. They swoop down at lightening fast speed and catch then in their beaks. Then the magpies just sit around on every palm tree and on the roof, they fly around eating all that are left.

Then our last and my wives most favorite creator, the flying ant! (No Patty really hates these guys!) They come in the houses look for water before they die during dry season. They are not to bad, they do not bit they just crawl around. Here they are very few, but in Barkino Faso, I am told that they come in swarms and people eat then fried. We only have about 20 to 30 visitors a year. But, Patty is very polite and greets each one with a nice magazine that she crushes them with.

So, these are our seasons. They add a little spice to our life. So, for all those in the Frozen north or temperate South, who are starting to turn their heaters on, give your love ones a happy Migration Season greeting from us.