covid-19

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays

Meantime, some Christmas gifts have arrived. Please see this DNR story, Holiday Birding Report, Dec. 18, 2020, for the news that many, many bright little birds are visiting Wisconsin this winter. They'd love to welcome you outside for a reminder of how lovely and bountiful nature can be and maybe as a symbol of how life can take unexpected turns for the better. At any rate, they're gorgeous and will lift your spirits. One of the DNR links offers good advice for providing our winter visitors proper nutrition, Ten Tips for Winter Bird Feeding.

Photo by Ryan Brady

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6 conservation lessons from a COVID spring

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A set of lessons is of particular concern to conservationists and policymakers in Wisconsin. We can't help but see how important the outdoors are to everyone at a time of crisis, worry, and misery. As the plague started, people wanted to be outside. While some pursued favorite activities like birding or fishing, many just wanted to be outside walking and surrounded by Nature's variety and beauty. These walks and outings became a consistent and safe consolation. Backyards, neighborhoods, and small municipal parks were certainly important for folks, but a huge number of us hungered for bigger, more varied, and more beautiful places. Places we could—at least temporarily—lose ourselves and the burdensome consciousness of all that was going wrong and might get worse.

Here are the top 6 lessons I think we as a nature-loving community have learned or should learn through our rollercoaster experience with COVID-19.

Madison Audubon photo

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We are Not Alone

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We are Not Alone

The plague has reminded us how important human contact is — physical, familial, emotional — and how painful the loss of that can be. We need to be reminded that we are not alone and how we can maintain contact with one another. Thanks to Matt, Brenna, Carolyn, Caitlyn, Becky, and John of Madison Audubon's staff as they create new ways to reach out to our members, volunteers, and friends during these uniquely trying times.

Madison Audubon is not alone either. I thought a review of some of our organizational friends, partners, and allies might make for a few moments of happy reading (and some ideas of some new places to spend time outdoors).

Photo by Drew Harry

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Lookin' Out My Backdoor

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So went the advice of Creedence Clearwater Revival (admit it, some of you remember the band) and it's applicable today. Most of are and should be at home most of the time. Our bird friends are there too. You never know what you're going to see to amuse, inspire, or awe you unless you take the time to look.

In my front, side, and back yards, the stars this spring have been the cardinals. Two males and a female have been foraging and chasing one another. They can really fly through tight spaces. Some chickadees are sparing me some arduous clean up. I had about a three foot, rotting stump of an apple tree and decided that a year of procrastination was enough. The stump had to go. But a pair of chickadees started work on it just a couple of days ago. They are preparing a nest? Feeding on insects? Who cares, the stump is theirs for as long as they want it.

Photo by Mr.TinDC, FCC

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Birds, Beauty, and Not Too Many of Us

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With proper respect for social distancing, I hope many of you are able to get out and experience what nature can offer. We in Madison Audubon and other conservation organizations talk, plan, raise money, volunteer, and finally spend hours and hours in the field restoring parts of nature. Time to remember that nature can restore us.

Some of our favorite places to experience nature — state and county parks, for example — might be drawing crowds that push the social distancing limits. Here are two suggestions for off the beaten track lands that will be glorious to visit and not too crowded.

Photo by Joshua Mayer