Many of us are still staying close to home due to the coronavirus pandemic. While we may be connected virtually to friends, family, and work we’re disconnected physically. This lack of physical touch is hard on everyone, including me. For six weeks, on each Monday beginning May 4th, I’ll offer a prompt to help you get “in touch” with the place where you live, to cultivate a deeper connection with the natural world around you. Last week we started exploring the living things in our place by seeing what’s growing- the flora or plant life. This week, we’ll follow the fauna – the animals and birds that share our place with us. These too are unique.

The Fauna

“Each place, that is to say, is a unique state of mind, and the many powers that constitute and dwell within that locale – the spiders and the tree frogs no less than the humans – all participate in, and partake of, the particular mind of the place.” ~ David Abram, Becoming Animal

Animals

Animals are more elusive than plants, since they’re often on the move. But, they leave behind signs – prints and tracks, droppings, rubbings on trees, trails and entrances to burrows, and vegetation lines on trees.

  • Name 5 wild animals native to your area.
  • Can you find examples of a mammal, reptile or amphibian, and waterfowl this week?
  • Which animals do you see regularly in your yard or block?
  • Are there particular animals or insects you consider a nuisance? Read: Praise Song for the Unloved Animals.
  • Which animal species are extinct in your area and which are currently endangered? What’s being done about this, if anything?
  • Look for animal tracks and follow them. What do you find? Read: Desire Paths.

Birds

Your biome determines the birds that live in your area as well as those that stop during migration. Migration is an intricate and fascinating rhythm in the natural world, performed throughout various habitats. Migratory species arrive at predestined stopovers looking for respite.

  • Which bird species are native to your area? Do you see them regularly? Can you identify 5 bird species in your immediate space?
  • Are there bird species that are endangered or extinct?
  • When and where do bird species migrate to your area? Why do they stop in your place? Where are they going next?
  • How have migrations changed along with climate changes?
  • Try bird whispering.
  • Here are Five Practices for Listening to the Language of Birds from Emergence Magazine.

Birds depend on habitats. Where do the birds flock to in your place? Are there areas of habitat in need of restoring? What kinds of restoration or preservation projects are currently happening? Is this something you’d like to be involved in?

I once participated in a study assessing a grasslands restoration project in my area. The bobolink and eastern meadowlark birds are endangered due to loss of grasslands habitat. This project is a way to bring them back. How did I find out about this? Because I’m a member of the Bruce Trail Hiking Club. They reached out to its members as interested parties. What organizations in your area might be offering similar studies?

Share your photos and experiences wherever you post and use the hashtag #discoveryourplace. Most of us seem to be on Instagram these days.

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