Congratulations! And yes, as someone who has "written nature" for decades, we need more and better press and more attention. I'm behind your 10k subscribers, but my Practicing Terraphilia is as much spiritual inspiration as nature writing, so I'm even harder to classify. Thank you for your eloquence and your regular "fox news" look at the planet and the web of life we share Earth with. You remind us to strengthen our in-born terraphilia, our species' cell-deep connection to nature, in beautiful ways. I, for one, am grateful.
That's an interesting thought, Bryan. I'll think on changing my categories. I'm picking up subscribers at a good clip, I'm just not in your league (yet). :) Thanks for the support!
Thanks, “Yuri.” I’m grateful that you’ve stuck with me. I know of your fondness for nature. As for wind, I’ve read and watched, for example, (some of) Shellenberger on wind. I’ve read the Breakthrough Institute’s rebuttal. I’m inclined to like iconoclasts and skeptics — we certainly need more of them. And regarding most matters of public policy, I believe this: no easy answers, especially online.
As for me, and my objectives at Chasing Nature, yep, I’ve got plenty of opinions on policy. Sometimes they make it into my essays. But most of the time, I stay in my lane, which is to share my experiences afield. Doing that, writing with meaning about what’s wild and beautiful and ugly and real in nature, takes pretty much all of me. I lose sleep over these essays. And I bleed at the keyboard every week. That’s my focus -- and my pledge to readers.
As a result, I simply don’t have the time (nor is it, I believe, the best use of my skills) to discuss or debate, even based on science and experience, policy here at Chasing Nature, especially in comments (where I believe minds are rarely changed and peoples' talents are too often diverted from more productive engagements). (Besides, McKibben can speak for himself; he’s been doing so for a very long time. 😀)
But I do know that you and I share an affinity for the natural world. That’s good enough for me!
You are an inspiration to people like me, Bryan. I’m just starting here on Substack and feel uncertain about how to gain momentum to achieve what we nature writers all aspire to: to share our love for nature, hopefully inspire it in our readers, and thus contribute to collective action on nature's behalf. It's a tall order, but we have to keep on trying. I do firmly believe that writers can have a vital role to play in showing that we belong in, and to, nature, that we are nature, and that nature is home.
You're bringing such experience and insight to Nature's Blue Hour (https://thebluehourjournal.substack.com/), Jess. I'm hope more and more readers will find their way to you!
Fantastic, Bryan. I am not at all surprised, of course, given the depth of your knowledge and experience coupled with the evocative power of your writing. But congratulations are definitely in order!!!
Florida-ology (https://native2florida.substack.com/) -- some wonderful and crazy ecology and all the complexities of humanity packed into a single state. Thanks, Karen!
Congratulations and thanks for inspiring all of us fellow nature readers and writers. I'm also a photographer and nothing gives me more pleasure than creating images that spread the word about slowing down to appreciate all the subtle delights of nature!
Congrats, Brian! And thank you for your work. As the daily news gets worse, I find myself spending more effort looking for writing such as yours. It helps me to cleanse the debris from my brain and reset - like sitting under a comfy blanket by the fireplace with a warm cup of tea. Keep up the good work.
10,000! That is awesome Bryan. Thank you for all the eloquent Fox, Owl, and Maple News, not to mention Kingfisher, Nuthatch, and Little Brown Bird Dispatches. Also for the glimpse into the Substack universe – I had no idea there was a Fashion & Beauty realm (what are those 62,000 subscribers doing there when they can find so much beauty here??).
Congratulations! And yes, as someone who has "written nature" for decades, we need more and better press and more attention. I'm behind your 10k subscribers, but my Practicing Terraphilia is as much spiritual inspiration as nature writing, so I'm even harder to classify. Thank you for your eloquence and your regular "fox news" look at the planet and the web of life we share Earth with. You remind us to strengthen our in-born terraphilia, our species' cell-deep connection to nature, in beautiful ways. I, for one, am grateful.
I like the connections you're making at Practicing Terraphilia (https://practicingterraphilia.substack.com), Susan. Perhaps it's nature and philosophy?
That's an interesting thought, Bryan. I'll think on changing my categories. I'm picking up subscribers at a good clip, I'm just not in your league (yet). :) Thanks for the support!
Congrats! We all need more nature in our lives. Your photos are a timeline cleanse.
Are you aware that climate cultists like McKibben want to build more unreliable carbon-intensive wind turbines, which slaughter many birds and whales?
Thanks, “Yuri.” I’m grateful that you’ve stuck with me. I know of your fondness for nature. As for wind, I’ve read and watched, for example, (some of) Shellenberger on wind. I’ve read the Breakthrough Institute’s rebuttal. I’m inclined to like iconoclasts and skeptics — we certainly need more of them. And regarding most matters of public policy, I believe this: no easy answers, especially online.
As for me, and my objectives at Chasing Nature, yep, I’ve got plenty of opinions on policy. Sometimes they make it into my essays. But most of the time, I stay in my lane, which is to share my experiences afield. Doing that, writing with meaning about what’s wild and beautiful and ugly and real in nature, takes pretty much all of me. I lose sleep over these essays. And I bleed at the keyboard every week. That’s my focus -- and my pledge to readers.
As a result, I simply don’t have the time (nor is it, I believe, the best use of my skills) to discuss or debate, even based on science and experience, policy here at Chasing Nature, especially in comments (where I believe minds are rarely changed and peoples' talents are too often diverted from more productive engagements). (Besides, McKibben can speak for himself; he’s been doing so for a very long time. 😀)
But I do know that you and I share an affinity for the natural world. That’s good enough for me!
Congratulations, Bryan! So grateful for what you do, whatever it gets called.
Maybe I need to draft a definition of nature.
That which is not Humanity?
I do lean that way!
Of all the writers I subscribe to for digital shared understanding your writing is the text I most look forward to reading. Thank you.
(I also love to read Mary Oliver. I thought of her poetry as I read your work today. She also inspires slowing down to observe nature.)
Have you finished your efforts to write about wandering gliders?
Thanks, Sue. Well, the book is changing -- it won't be about those gliders. But butterflies will figure big in the narrative!
Congrats, Bryan!
Thanks, as always, for the support, Janis!
You are an inspiration to people like me, Bryan. I’m just starting here on Substack and feel uncertain about how to gain momentum to achieve what we nature writers all aspire to: to share our love for nature, hopefully inspire it in our readers, and thus contribute to collective action on nature's behalf. It's a tall order, but we have to keep on trying. I do firmly believe that writers can have a vital role to play in showing that we belong in, and to, nature, that we are nature, and that nature is home.
You're bringing such experience and insight to Nature's Blue Hour (https://thebluehourjournal.substack.com/), Jess. I'm hope more and more readers will find their way to you!
Fantastic, Bryan. I am not at all surprised, of course, given the depth of your knowledge and experience coupled with the evocative power of your writing. But congratulations are definitely in order!!!
Oh, this means a lot coming from you, Steve. Thanks.
Congrats! Your writing is so needed. Here's to the 2.2 million to catch up to Heather ;)
You'll get the 2.2 million more long before I do, Anna! :-) And it'll be well-deserved!
Congratulations! Sitting from my perch at 50 subscribers, 10,000 is an unthinkable feat. You’re an inspiration!
Florida-ology (https://native2florida.substack.com/) -- some wonderful and crazy ecology and all the complexities of humanity packed into a single state. Thanks, Karen!
Congratulations and thanks for inspiring all of us fellow nature readers and writers. I'm also a photographer and nothing gives me more pleasure than creating images that spread the word about slowing down to appreciate all the subtle delights of nature!
I like it that we communicate with words and images. Thanks, Karen!
Congrats, Brian! And thank you for your work. As the daily news gets worse, I find myself spending more effort looking for writing such as yours. It helps me to cleanse the debris from my brain and reset - like sitting under a comfy blanket by the fireplace with a warm cup of tea. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Brad. And you're my marine refuge -- great reading from an eloquent scientist.
10,000! That is awesome Bryan. Thank you for all the eloquent Fox, Owl, and Maple News, not to mention Kingfisher, Nuthatch, and Little Brown Bird Dispatches. Also for the glimpse into the Substack universe – I had no idea there was a Fashion & Beauty realm (what are those 62,000 subscribers doing there when they can find so much beauty here??).
Ha! Good point! Nature -- the original and most genuine Fashion & Beauty!
Non-human wise beings
cannot count as subscribers,
that’s why. It’s not fair.
Oh, as usual, so true! Thanks, Marisol!
Congratulations on 10,000 subscribers, Bryan! Thank you so much for spreading joy and connection with nature.
A reformed hard-core birder, I'm falling for birds yet again by way of your spectacular work! https://kellycballantyne.substack.com/
Congratulations, and thank you for your ongoing efforts!
It's so nice that after so many years (eek, decades!) you're still out there and connected!
Kudos!