I think it is also a case of interest. Personally, I have a passion for birds and birding. But I like to check out what else is around, especially herps. I like to try to find out what some of the different flowers are, especially spring ephemerals. I love finding areas with tons of butterflies while out birding. And I am the type of person who will pick up a snail or worm and move it off the sidewalk so it doesn't get stepped on. I have even helped a slug or two out that way.

What I am saying is that I think everything is connected; that is my interest and belief. Sometimes I do get carried away by trying to figure out what a new song is and where it's coming from and I miss a beautiful mushroom. But more often than not, I see so much that I don't worry about what I did miss. I remember communing with a massive swarm of bumblebees as they buzzed from flower to flower on a huge Rhododendron, my face right up in the flowers with them, neither of us bothering the other. Just me enjoying the experience of life at bee level, watching how they interact with the flowers and each other. Watching as Rufous and Anna's Hummingbirds come and sip nectar as well. Oh yea, there were probably other birds around for those few minutes, but why worry about it? I had a great nature experience of a different stroke. I think it is fun to know what other things are and how other things all depend on each other. It isn't fun for me to go all anal and have to see/hear ev!
ery bird
(although when doing point counts in a busy spot, it can get a little hectic!). But if others are into birds, only birds, nothing but birds, and they help promote birds, and spend money and all that? I'm cool with it. But I met some folks who seemed very birdy and only birdy until we talked about some of the other stuff that I and others saw while on the same walk in New Jersey last year. We saw pretty much all of the same birds, but by hanging back away from the others and listening to what nature was telling us, we saw deer, turtles, frogs, snakes, a fox, some fairly rare plants, some cool land snails and a rainbow pallet of different mushrooms. There were times when we pointed some of this out along the way, to little avail. It was after the walk when they heard about all of the different things we saw in the same 2 hour walk that they seemed to realize how much other neat stuff there was to see, and they were somewhat embarassed by their lack of knowledge. Talked them i!
nto
coming on a different walk with just me and another friend the following week at a different location and to just see what we saw. Those folks learned a lot, we saw some neat birds and we all had a great time. And now those folks have developed more interest in seeing what else is out there and have since picked up a couple of guide books to help them see all the "new stuff" nature has in store for them. It's actually pretty cool. But it still takes just having curiosity and interest.

Long, rambling, sorry. I think I got off point, but still. Experience nature in any manner you see fit, as long as you enjoy it and feel that sense of wonder. It is truly all good.

Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA

Rob Sandelin <floriferous at msn.com> wrote:
Actually, I have birded with several folks who have little interest in even
plants and trees, much less mushrooms, slugs, insects, and all the rest. In
fact, I have found it rather rare to find field folks with broad interests.
The botanists and mycology folks seem generally disinterested about birds,
the bugsters I hang with are all too often woefully under educated in
mammals and birds. It seems most university programs push specialization
rather than generalization. This is not meant to be a criticism, I have all
kinds of respect for experts in things, and I utilize their expertise
whenever I can. It is just not my path.

My most memorable experiences have been with old timer naturalists such as
Vic Sheffer, John Slipp, and Earl Larrison. Those guys did amazing variety
of work in the 50's and 60's and introduced me to the notion of poking
around, gleefully delving into whatever aspect of nature which presents
itself. Many years ago I teased Earl Larrison about not having done a field
guide to insects. (He penned local field guides on mammals, wildlfowers, and
birds). He sighed and said, the trouble with nature is that she takes 100
liftimes before you can begin to know her, I was only gifted with one....

I share his lament...


Rob Sandelin.



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