7 Comments

I enjoyed this all-around post. Although I do love birds for the reasons that you know well, I am also interested in other species that form part of our natural world. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and insights.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Perry! We love birds for a lot of the same reasons -- it always makes me happy when you praise ducks and geese -- but our winged friends sometimes cause us to overlook other beautiful aspects of the natural world. I appreciate you reading.

Expand full comment

Thank you, James. This is a resonant post for me this week and thank you for sharing so much of your wide ranging interests of the natural world. Thank you for the link to the tribute to another wonderful dog. Best wishes to you.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you for reading, Heidi. I am not a fern expert, not an expert on any of my interests -- a lot of this newsletter is just me relaying what I learn, which I enjoy doing.

I thought of you and Panda as I wrote about Duke. Your Panda writings also resonated with me. Best wishes to you, I hope you are moving forward positively and honoring Panda in whatever ways seem fit.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, James. Reading your posts is like being in the field, learning and observing. It’s a great approach that you take. Thank you again for your kindness toward Panda and my loss. I had just returned home from the vet’s office to pick up my little girl’s ashes when I saw your timely post. Moments like these help me heal.

Expand full comment

Excellent post James. I know nothing about ferns and appreciate the information on them. I do pass some on my hikes at my local conservation area. I will be sure to stop and spend a few extra moments looking at them and trying to get a sense of their part of the area. Birds are so accessible as wildlife that I find myself getting focused on them so much more. I actually have to conciously make an effort sometimes to focus on other facets of Nature like mammals and plants.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Neil and I appreciate the restack! The accessibility and excitement of birds does make it hard sometimes to focus on anything else. Ferns give trails character, and they can be a little less demanding than birds to find, though equally demanding to gain fluency with.

For a time there was a trail I'd walk that I came to associate with cinnamon fern, but after a few woodpecker encounters they usurped the ferns. Accessible and interesting, those woodpeckers--but now when I walk that trail I feel compelled to look for ferns again.

Expand full comment