"The human bond with nature — that meager word we use to describe what’s green and wild and brutal and graceful, what slithers or hops or swims or flys, what constitutes the most genuine places on Earth — gets short shrift in our mass media."
Of course it does, for a few reasons, including lack of knowledge, distance from Nature and lack of interest in anything that does not cause controversy. The media, in general these days, is not a societal organ of information, let alone knowledge. It is just entertainment, and even at that it fails.
Yep, I agree, Perry. And some day I'll write on that topic. What saddens me even more is how so many people know so little about the nature around them, even tree species growing nearby. We ARE nature -- and it dismays me how disconnected folks can be from it.
And you ought to write about it. As an addendum to my comment, I made it not from a place of ignorance, but of intimate knowledge, of how it has deviated from its essential role in society I am a retired journalist with 30 years of experience. Before that an engineer.
A lovely day in Vermont, indeed. Not a lot of hawks flying in the Champlain Valley today. But, like I said, hey, I was atop a mountain -- so no complaining. 😀 More hawks on the way!
Wow, I listened to the Rumble Strip podcast you did, Bird Man, and I have to say I was really bowled over. First, it made me wish that my introduction to birding had come from someone with your infectious enthusiasm and generosity. I think it would have made my entry into birding much more pleasant. Though my family had long birded, my “mentor” into really watching was this guy who was really hung up on being right, so much so that he sometimes scolded me for getting an ID wrong or second-guessed IDs I knew to be correct. I pretty quickly outgrew him … and keep on birding now. Second, I think it’s really interesting how hearing someone voice can help one appreciate their writing. Now that I know your voice, I think I’ll hear your enthusiasm and energy more in your writing. For me, that’s a real bonus.
Tom, what a kind, thoughtful comment. Thanks so much. You've made my day. You've also described all too well that odd sociology among birdwatchers. Not all of them, by any means. But that competitiveness and "authority trip" seems so wrong, and yet, as you aptly described, it's endemic to birding. I guess it's human nature (among some humans), but is incongruous related to something as wonderful as birds. Maybe it's been changing for the better since back in the day -- I suspect so. Hope so.
And, yeah, you got me on the exuberance. It's real -- always has been. And it shows up in my writing to varying degrees. In any event, thanks for reading, listening, and writing here. It means a lot to me.
I think in my birder’s instance it stems from insecurity, so I find I can forgive him. We’re still friendly, I just don’t share my bird sightings with him, lest I be corrected. (He actually features in a short story I wrote about birding that you may find amusing: https://tompendergast.substack.com/p/dont-give-up-birding2). Anyway, you’re quite welcome, and I’ll keep on enjoying your work.
Love how much you ground me, as always, Bryan. I had a long drive yesterday and though I hadn't read this yet I remembered the title and remembered to look up, where I saw a lot of hawks! And remembered you'd told me where to look online to find organized watching sites.
And thank you for always sharing the work of other writers too -- that kind of comaraderie makes writing a better world to exist in!
"The human bond with nature — that meager word we use to describe what’s green and wild and brutal and graceful, what slithers or hops or swims or flys, what constitutes the most genuine places on Earth — gets short shrift in our mass media."
Of course it does, for a few reasons, including lack of knowledge, distance from Nature and lack of interest in anything that does not cause controversy. The media, in general these days, is not a societal organ of information, let alone knowledge. It is just entertainment, and even at that it fails.
Yep, I agree, Perry. And some day I'll write on that topic. What saddens me even more is how so many people know so little about the nature around them, even tree species growing nearby. We ARE nature -- and it dismays me how disconnected folks can be from it.
Yes, we are Nature.
And you ought to write about it. As an addendum to my comment, I made it not from a place of ignorance, but of intimate knowledge, of how it has deviated from its essential role in society I am a retired journalist with 30 years of experience. Before that an engineer.
Crystal is covered in dense fog this morning in the NEK . Looks to be beautiful day in VT. Good luck and enjoy your mountain top du jour.
A lovely day in Vermont, indeed. Not a lot of hawks flying in the Champlain Valley today. But, like I said, hey, I was atop a mountain -- so no complaining. 😀 More hawks on the way!
Bryan, have any suggestions for a flyway zone near Willoughby , Crystal area? I was thinking Burke Mtn…
That’s just extraordinary - those silhouettes against the blue sky are magic!
Very jealous - we don’t get views like that here!
Lots of hawks cross at the Strait of Gibraltar!
Wow, I listened to the Rumble Strip podcast you did, Bird Man, and I have to say I was really bowled over. First, it made me wish that my introduction to birding had come from someone with your infectious enthusiasm and generosity. I think it would have made my entry into birding much more pleasant. Though my family had long birded, my “mentor” into really watching was this guy who was really hung up on being right, so much so that he sometimes scolded me for getting an ID wrong or second-guessed IDs I knew to be correct. I pretty quickly outgrew him … and keep on birding now. Second, I think it’s really interesting how hearing someone voice can help one appreciate their writing. Now that I know your voice, I think I’ll hear your enthusiasm and energy more in your writing. For me, that’s a real bonus.
Tom, what a kind, thoughtful comment. Thanks so much. You've made my day. You've also described all too well that odd sociology among birdwatchers. Not all of them, by any means. But that competitiveness and "authority trip" seems so wrong, and yet, as you aptly described, it's endemic to birding. I guess it's human nature (among some humans), but is incongruous related to something as wonderful as birds. Maybe it's been changing for the better since back in the day -- I suspect so. Hope so.
And, yeah, you got me on the exuberance. It's real -- always has been. And it shows up in my writing to varying degrees. In any event, thanks for reading, listening, and writing here. It means a lot to me.
I think in my birder’s instance it stems from insecurity, so I find I can forgive him. We’re still friendly, I just don’t share my bird sightings with him, lest I be corrected. (He actually features in a short story I wrote about birding that you may find amusing: https://tompendergast.substack.com/p/dont-give-up-birding2). Anyway, you’re quite welcome, and I’ll keep on enjoying your work.
Love how much you ground me, as always, Bryan. I had a long drive yesterday and though I hadn't read this yet I remembered the title and remembered to look up, where I saw a lot of hawks! And remembered you'd told me where to look online to find organized watching sites.
And thank you for always sharing the work of other writers too -- that kind of comaraderie makes writing a better world to exist in!