I recently participated in the Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue sponsored by the Religious Witness for the Earth. A hearty core of walkers traveled all the way from Northampton to Boston, I simply joined in on a couple of days. But on those days I experienced what Brown-headed Cowbirds must. They are raised by surrogate parents so the first time they meet others of their species is after they leave the nest and venture out into the world. I have no idea how a cowbird raised by something other than a cowbird actually knows that it is a cowbird, but someone they find others of their species. I knew I was with my own species when I joined the tribe of compassionate walkers bold enough to believe that we can reverse the damage we are doing to the planet.
One subject of discussion during our time together was our need as humans to reconnect to the planet; to learn again how to read the landscape. Too often, we are at a complete disconnect from the environment that sustains us. If we only had a better understanding of the fragile ecological balance that keeps us alive we might treat the earth better. Of course for me reading the landscape involves identifying birds. I kept lists each of my two days of walking.
On Monday we walked 16 miles from Ware to Spencer. I recorded 350 birds of 29 species.
On Saturday we walked 4.5 miles from Cambridge to Boston. I recorded 91 birds of 7 species.
Interestingly, the density of birds was nearly the same, 22 birds/mile on Monday and 20 birds/mile on Saturday. Obviously, the diversity was vastly different. Clearly, the difference between a rural and urban setting shows in these numbers. Likewise telling are these numbers: on Monday we passed 1 Dunkin' Donuts and 1 McDonald's in 8.5 hours; on Saturday in just over 2 hours we passed 2 Dunkin' Donuts, 2 McDonald's, and 3 Starbucks!
While some of my fellow travelers marveled at my ability to find and identify so many birds, none of them had any difficulty understanding the difference between the two ecosystems and the need for more of the former and less of the latter. For me, I didn't consider either day a very good day birding, most of the species where what I expected. Indeed, in less than a half-hour in my driveway awaiting my ride to the city, I heard a dozen country birds singing. As a birder I tend to live for the surprises. The real surprises for me lay in the encounters I had with the walkers. In fact it was my encounter with a not-quite 5 year-old that led to my birding highlight of the walk.
Wren, who is four-and-three-quarters, was not familiar with the song of the Carolina Wren before I shared it with her. At the end of our 16 miles of walking together she was cheerfully singing "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle" letting me know that she was a Carolina Wren. Sadly, we had not encountered one that day. But moments before I was about to rejoin my newfound tribe on Saturday, just as I put my hand to the door handle of Christ Church in Cambridge, a loud, jubilant sound reached my ears...."teakettle, teakettle, teakettle!" I smile at the serendipity of the the Spirit's gift and with the eagerness of the four-and-three-quarter year-old that still lives in me, I set out to share the good news.
One subject of discussion during our time together was our need as humans to reconnect to the planet; to learn again how to read the landscape. Too often, we are at a complete disconnect from the environment that sustains us. If we only had a better understanding of the fragile ecological balance that keeps us alive we might treat the earth better. Of course for me reading the landscape involves identifying birds. I kept lists each of my two days of walking.
On Monday we walked 16 miles from Ware to Spencer. I recorded 350 birds of 29 species.
On Saturday we walked 4.5 miles from Cambridge to Boston. I recorded 91 birds of 7 species.
Interestingly, the density of birds was nearly the same, 22 birds/mile on Monday and 20 birds/mile on Saturday. Obviously, the diversity was vastly different. Clearly, the difference between a rural and urban setting shows in these numbers. Likewise telling are these numbers: on Monday we passed 1 Dunkin' Donuts and 1 McDonald's in 8.5 hours; on Saturday in just over 2 hours we passed 2 Dunkin' Donuts, 2 McDonald's, and 3 Starbucks!
While some of my fellow travelers marveled at my ability to find and identify so many birds, none of them had any difficulty understanding the difference between the two ecosystems and the need for more of the former and less of the latter. For me, I didn't consider either day a very good day birding, most of the species where what I expected. Indeed, in less than a half-hour in my driveway awaiting my ride to the city, I heard a dozen country birds singing. As a birder I tend to live for the surprises. The real surprises for me lay in the encounters I had with the walkers. In fact it was my encounter with a not-quite 5 year-old that led to my birding highlight of the walk.
Wren, who is four-and-three-quarters, was not familiar with the song of the Carolina Wren before I shared it with her. At the end of our 16 miles of walking together she was cheerfully singing "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle" letting me know that she was a Carolina Wren. Sadly, we had not encountered one that day. But moments before I was about to rejoin my newfound tribe on Saturday, just as I put my hand to the door handle of Christ Church in Cambridge, a loud, jubilant sound reached my ears...."teakettle, teakettle, teakettle!" I smile at the serendipity of the the Spirit's gift and with the eagerness of the four-and-three-quarter year-old that still lives in me, I set out to share the good news.
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