Fall

Fall is a gorgeous and amazing time of year. So much changes this time of year; from the colors of our forests, to a new school year, to major daylight and weather changes. I always have a slight feeling of nostalgia, too, for falls and seasons past. I look forward to this feeling and season every year though.

I am also awed every fall. Not just by my favorite weather and the beautiful red leaves of the maples, but by all of the species taking wing and heading south. I cannot help but smile at every V of geese going by, every monarch butterfly drifting along calmly checking out flowers on their thousand+ mile journey, and every group of noisy warblers stopping for the night. Seeing and thinking about these species’ journeys is truly inspiring. They leave our forests, fields, and lakes to travel to their other home and they do not worry that they will return in the spring to anything different. This trust in the stability of their home, and their ability to move such great distances with such precision is what inspires me. We, and generations after us need to make sure we all get to see these amazing creatures depart and return safely home. 

(Written 9/20/12 on Mt. Mansfield, VT)

Renewable?

Wind power projects are not all environmentally sound decisions! And all-electric cars are not 100% renewable or emission free!

It is great that people are starting to see the need for changes in energy use and production. But these advances are not always as good as they seem. Radio ads for new emission-free electric cars really get me. Sure, the car is not emitting anything as it drives, but it does not change the origins’ of the cars’ electricity. Unless the electricity is coming from renewable sources (that are not causing problems of their own), it is from coal or nuclear or other problematic sources.

Wind energy has been very controversial here in Vermont with several new and proposed projects. The idea of wind as a safe, environmental option has really taken off, and the method of its implementation is questioned by too few. If wind projects were planned for already developed areas, I would likely not have a problem with them. However, putting twenty turbines on a completely undeveloped ridge poses more problems than significantly altering the view. These ridge projects fragment forest areas, disturb habitat for many species, and can alter waterways all around. Wind is a great source of renewable energy, but only if it can be done in a way that does not cause other large environmental problems. 

(written 9/17/12 on Mt. Mansfield, VT)

Hope in Kids' Enthusiasm

Seeing kids truly interested in nature is very inspiring. I have had several opportunities to see this recently; first at a boys summer camp in Maine at which I volunteered and second during my new position as hut and summit caretaker on Mt. Mansfield. One of the most popular activities at the camp was Ranger Trail where the kids learned birds, flowers, trees, outdoor safety and ethics, and more. This was my favorite activity to teach because of the kids’ enthusiasm. Seeing a 10-year old running up to me saying, “Can I learn my birds today?” made me smile every time.

It was even more amazing to see how they retained this information outside of camp when I happened to meet one of my campers on Mt. Mansfield. He remembered some of the plants and asked me about new ones. But even more inspiring, I watched him remind his family to pick up everything they brought (“Remember Leave No Trace, Dad!”). If kids are reminding their parents of these ideas and practices, then there is certainly hope for protecting our environment.

Even just seeing the number of kids outside hiking and excited about it is encouraging. My favorite from my job so far was a 4-year old, who, as soon as he showed up at the hut at 8:30 pm, asked his dad, “Can we stay four nights?” I wish everyone was this excited to be outdoors and appreciative of the natural areas we have.

               

These kids don’t understand everything that’s going on in the environment, and nobody fully does, but appreciating and loving it is the best start we can make towards its protection. 

(written 9/11/12 on Mansfield)

Invading Our Favorite Places

Invasive species are one growing environmental problem on which we can all make a huge difference. Simply knowing what species are considered invasive in your area and avoiding planting them, or helping with active removal of them, can make all the difference. Many people do not realize the problem these plants can cause, or underestimate their ability to spread. There is lots of information available by getting in touch with local conservation groups or looking at state and federal invasive species rules and plans. By visiting The National Invasive Species Information Center, one can find more material about their state or a particular species.

It is encouraging that this issue is starting to attract more attention. I recently listened to a good Vermont Public Radio story on invasive species, but something really worried me after the story. Someone posed the question, “Why are invasive species such a problem?” The response was that the reasons were readily apparent when driving along a highway and seeing endless Wild Parsnip along the road; that this plant was abundant along the road and can cause bad skin reactions with contact. The human worry is not the main problem. The real worry about invasive species is the huge affect they can have on our native ecology. Invasive plants can completely alter natural ecosystems by pushing out native plants and reducing biodiversity. Invasive insects are completely removing species from our forests. The worry about invasive species should not be focused on their impact on humans, but the devastating changes they have on the native forests, wetlands, and other natural areas.

The answer can again be to take care of our own favorite places, be conscious of what we do in our own lawn or garden, and realize our choices impact more than ourselves. Even this scale environmental problem can be controlled at the level of the individual. 

A Wake-up Call

Much of my life I have been amazed by the beauty of our natural world, but there are moments when the full force of its beauty and importance are truly inspiring. I have had several of these moments in the past few months, and have realized how much one moment of complete awe in nature can change how one thinks about their impact on the environment.

These moments seem to come most readily atop mountains for me – looking out over the snow-covered Pemigewasset Wilderness in NH from Zealand Cliff, walking along the Bigelow Range in Maine, or looking south at the White Mountains from Percy Peak. The most recent came while watching the sunset on White Rocks in Middlesex, VT. The peaks were still lit by the fading sun and Swainson’s Thrushes were calling their beautiful notes. Their call was the only sound I could hear, and I realized the importance of this single species. While the solitude of the moment created the full feeling of awe, I couldn’t help but wish that more people could be there. If everyone could feel a little bit of that natural inspiration, wouldn’t the environment seem so much more important? If everyone had one natural place that they felt was worth saving, wouldn’t we all be more conscious of our impact on the planet?

I hope so and I truly believe a difference can be made, starting at the scale of the individual. If we all take care of and pay attention to a place where we find natural beauty, whether it is an entire National Forest or it is a favorite tree in a park, we will gain a greater sense of the importance of our environment on a larger scale.

This moment of hearing the Swainson’s Thrushes was not the start of my strong interest in conservation, but it stood out and brought to the surface my deep interest in protecting our earth, and everything on it. Though many of my ideas already exist, I hope to share my thoughts, experiences and passion regarding our beautiful planet and our relation to it. I hope everyone can experience moments of joy and inspiration from something as small as a thrush.