Amid the horrors of the Russian invasion, Ukrainians are sharing with the world their photographs of birds, butterflies, frogs, flowers and other life from nature.
I loved reading this so, so much. Thank you, and all of those humans who’ve continued to share what the world brings to life no matter what other humans do to destroy. 🧡🧡🧡
Thanks, Nia. Nothing worse on the world stage than war, of course. Every war a war crime. One thing of note on that map above: lots of nature sightings around Kyiv, owing to lots of people. But also lots from Crimea. I happen to know that a few biologists submitting many records from Crimea sort of skew the data. But also of note in Crimea that could account for the abundance of reports (and lots of orange on the map): currently no war there.
That is a very interesting point about Crimea. I wonder what it would have looked like shortly after Putin initially invaded there in 2014? And even without war -- how did things like Citizen Science participation change during the first two years of Covid, when people might have been getting outside where they lived more often?
So much to retain from this article! Will especially share the bird recording done over the air-raid sirens. For me only music can come close to the love of nature with regard to keeping the human spirit alive and strong.
Thanks, Joe. I've got an essay in mind about our honest sources of transcendence and enrichment of spirit. Music figures in it as well for me — but more so a singular plant species. It's been tough to start that essay because, well, how does one write about love for a plant without being overwrought or sappy (or weird)? I've never really gone there. (But I'm workin' on it.) 😀 Wish me luck!
I loved reading this so, so much. Thank you, and all of those humans who’ve continued to share what the world brings to life no matter what other humans do to destroy. 🧡🧡🧡
Thanks, Nia. Nothing worse on the world stage than war, of course. Every war a war crime. One thing of note on that map above: lots of nature sightings around Kyiv, owing to lots of people. But also lots from Crimea. I happen to know that a few biologists submitting many records from Crimea sort of skew the data. But also of note in Crimea that could account for the abundance of reports (and lots of orange on the map): currently no war there.
That is a very interesting point about Crimea. I wonder what it would have looked like shortly after Putin initially invaded there in 2014? And even without war -- how did things like Citizen Science participation change during the first two years of Covid, when people might have been getting outside where they lived more often?
"Every war a war crime" -- yes.
Fantastic. Simply ... fantastic. Thank you for your deep and compassionate thinking on this most terrible of subjects.
Thanks, Steve. Will we ever realize the utter senselessness and horror of war? I so wish we will. I fear we will not.
So much to retain from this article! Will especially share the bird recording done over the air-raid sirens. For me only music can come close to the love of nature with regard to keeping the human spirit alive and strong.
Thanks, Joe. I've got an essay in mind about our honest sources of transcendence and enrichment of spirit. Music figures in it as well for me — but more so a singular plant species. It's been tough to start that essay because, well, how does one write about love for a plant without being overwrought or sappy (or weird)? I've never really gone there. (But I'm workin' on it.) 😀 Wish me luck!
Tears 🙏🏻