Observations
~ by Jim Eagleman
Winter bird feeding really isn’ t much bother once you remember to do it every day. The rewards should be enough to remind me to keep the bucket handy and the cut-up suet in the freezer. Looking over the top of the laptop, the filled feeders attract the normal array of finches, titmice, and chickadee— the winter birds and those that stay here year’ round.
Seeing the assembly of electronic gadgets around me— cell phone, scanner, and a temperamental printer— I think about how things have changed since I used to fill the feeders as a kid. My mom used to say I could pretend the activity at the feeder was like a television show— watch and see what happens. Birds and voracious squirrels still do what they have been doing for centuries. They flit about, scurry, feed, and flock near the hanging feeder by the kitchen window. Except for a normal feeding chirp or scold, I don’ t hear anything. Even while the show’ s the same, my life has changed in so many ways.
Why I dwell on this may be due to my recent retirement from work. My break after 40 + years with the Indiana DNR at Brown County State Park now allows me a bit more freedom to think, wonder, and speculate about nature. Some say it’ s daydreaming. That’ s alright because I believe we all have the opportunity. It’ s fun to let the brain go.
A professor once told us burgeoning naturalists that food, water, and cover is all that’ s needed to attract wildlife. Available in the right portions, animals and birds would find these necessities and take up residency. Cover was described as anything providing protection from wind and bad weather. Nothing more was needed. Unlike farmers of domestic livestock, we weren’ t to be thought of caretakers or owners.
Consistent, regular, and steady— despite man’ s changing environment— wild things go about their existence with little difference over time. I consider the changes in my life within the past few years and my head swims. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter now give me information I used to get from reading the evening paper or see on the 11 o’ clock news. Emails replace letters and even family
newsletters at holiday time are sent electronically. So when I watch birds at the feeder, I am anchored to a basic, uncluttered, event unaffected by today’ s technology. I am brought home to a ritual, fundamental and unpretentious. Slowed down, I am recharged.
I’ d like to think this is the way it is with nature observations— they require we step away from the normal activity to experience. Once removed, we visualize the event as it has occurred for eons. For many of us in today’ s fast world, that is the appeal— why we go out, why we live here.
Thanks to the many readers of Our Brown County for the well wishes and“ Good luck!” I received as I entered retirement. While my articles for this publication won’ t include park events or program invitations any more, I still plan to continue my nature notes and musings. I am adding the definition of a nature term or word I’ ve learned and want to share. Hope you like it.
Psithurism— the sound of wind in the trees and rustling of leaves. •
38 Our Brown County Jan./ Feb. 2016