Nature Connection: Magical Moments For The Win

 By the time you read this, the election will have occurred, but as I write the election is still almost a week away so we’re in a little time warp here. Like the young ospreys lifting off to fly in a southern direction but not knowing quite where they’ll end up, I am putting words together and hoping for the best.

The season is changing, along with the month. An early morning drive exposed many leafless trees as well as hundreds of blackbirds lined up on the utility wires. The sky was full of puffy gray clouds tinged with a dirty lavender, and the marshes seemed to have turned golden overnight. There were still spots of reddish salicornia tucked in among the golden grasses, but I could see the change to beige coming, sneakily like a mouse in the night.

Over the few warmer days when the weather got confused and thought it was summer, we had chipmunks out and about, stuffing their cheeks and scolding each other as they gathered as much food as they could. A late dragonfly flew lazily over a bank of fading grasses and a song sparrow scratched around under a rosa rugosa bush for seeds and other goodies.

Behind the song sparrow were several horned larks, their perky head feathers standing up in the breeze. These small birds are not uncommon yet many never notice them, often confusing them with sparrows. They have distinctive facial markings, and if you catch them right, you’ll see the little feather tufts that look a bit like tiny horns, hence their name. Look for them in sandy dune areas, sandy spots by marshes, or even sandy fields. Often you can see them foraging in the grasses by the parking lots in many area beaches. Although these birds nest here, they are often easier to see in the fall and winter.

The brant, small geese that have black chests instead of white, have returned to many areas. They feed on eelgrass, so look for them in areas known to have good areas for feeding. The winter ducks are arriving almost daily so keep your eyes out for those as well.

As the ducks come in, the egrets and herons have been quietly leaving, though there are still a few around. Some will stay for the winter, as will some orioles and catbirds. 

This is a good time to gather wild seeds if you are so inclined. Just remember that most must be planted now so they benefit from the cold winter. This is true of many plants, such as milkweed. If you bring them inside to plant later in the spring, you will just end up disappointed. If you are going to collect wild seeds, please be aware of what plants are native and which are invasive.

Birds and animals will help you plant, but they don’t always bring you what you want. I can testify to this one, having many invasives shared by birds who ate the berries and then pooped in my yard. Our most recent bird gift was a patch of poison ivy, one we weren’t really itching to add, if you know what I mean.

If you haven’t disposed of your pumpkins already, please put them outside for the squirrels and birds to enjoy. You might also check with friends who have chickens, as these birds also love a pumpkin treat. If you’re lucky you might even get free pumpkin plants to grow your own next summer.

Some of us have already had a bit of a frost, and as I drove by all the bare trees, I knew I had to acknowledge that late fall was creeping right up on us. Darker afternoons, colder mornings, quieter days are ahead. I can’t say I mind too much. I rather like the chance to step back a bit, enjoy some hot tea or coffee and light a candle or two as I snuggle in for a cozy session of reading. I do, however, always miss the light, but I also know it won’t be long before it all turns around once again and dawn will once again be filled with sunshine and birdsong.

Ever since I was a very small child, I have felt the magic of nature. A walk in nature can help restore our peace of mind, give us a chance to solve a problem or at least think of some options, and of course gives us a chance to exercise. If we go without external distractions such as earphones we can easily tune into the sounds and sights around us. We may hear a squirrel scolding, a chickadee chipping as it feeds, the branches of a tree whining as they rub against each other. Perhaps we will spy a deer or an owl, a fox or a mouse. The light may catch a leaf falling or land upon the last blossom of a wood aster, causing our heart to skip a beat — in a good way.

Observing nature on a regular basis helps us find our place in the world. It isn’t in a shop or office, a car or a plane. It’s outdoors, on the ground, in the midst of all our fellow creatures and plants. If we can get outside to really appreciate and enjoy the magic all around us, we will have won.