Sitting from my quarantine window last night in Long Island, NY I listened to the night.
Red-wing Blackbirds sang their disjunct shrieking songs as sparrows filled the wet March air with melody. Spring peepers dotted the atmosphere with haunting chimes and an eastern screech owl took the solo with a deep low trill that was the night itself. These golden evenings events rage on on regular schedules, and during the pandemic they are, perhaps, the only events that will not be cancelled.
In times of pain and uncertainty I have always found solace in natural spaces and the plants and creatures that inhabit them. Spring in particular is my favorite season because it marks the return of life to the northern regions of the world. Between the times of March and May over 200 species of birds will be returning to the Northeast and over 1000 species of plants will wake up from their below ground slumbers. Trees will begin to erupt with color, and mammals will be breaking out of hibernation to rejoin us across the landscape. Amphibians and reptiles will be back to hopping around and croaking through the night, and days will become longer and warmer. With this being said, during this time of “self-isolation” and intense reflection, we may have our best chance to interact with nature. I suggest you take this time and learn what bird is singing in your backyard, or identify that pretty flower you have growing on the edge of your lawn. Really take a second, and introduce yourself formally to the animals and plants you have been sharing the landscape with your whole life. This is a free activity, it is COVID-19 approved, and will give you a sense of connection you never knew was possible. Learning what exists in your ecosystems is an incredibly rewarding endeavor to begin on that helps to connect you with the earth. And, during these times of isolation and darkness I think connection is something we can all use a bit more of.
Below I have listed a couple resources that are free apps in the AppStore that have helped me to connect to nature. I hope that at the very least this break you smell the flowers, and think about the bright side of this strange time!
Merlin Bird ID – This free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is fantastic for anyone learning about birds for the first time. With easy to use features that help narrow down birds for you this is a must for new naturalists
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673
New York Wildflowers – This is another free app that includes an easy to use guide on how to Id every single plant found in the state of New York. One of the best apps for Northeastern Plant ID I know of.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/new-york-wildflowers/id1103452446
If you would like to know more about how to get involved in your local environment, or are not sure where to start, you can email me at nfila16@stlawu.edu