Category: Birds

Mindful birding- hmmm? Mindfulness has become a common word and way to a better life they say. As I understand, “mindfulness” is a mild form of meditation, where one is “in the moment” focusing on a thought or object that is all consuming. My personal experiences of this type are when I’m painting a picture, weaving a basket, or sitting very motionless for long periods while hunting deer where every sound and sight is in the moment. Birding, not so much, unless an unexpected species presents itself through sight or sound. A goshawk sitting on its kill nearby- a rarity I can vividly recall, including its surroundings. The sound of a peregrine falcon flying above Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Thus, my interest was piqued when I first saw the phrase “mindful birding”. To gain some enlightenment, myself and another Bridgerland Audubon board member attended a “Mindful Birding” workshop in Colorado to gain some insight into this enigma.

These opening statements at the workshop encapsulated its essence- “Mindful birding combines observing birds with mindfulness techniques, creating a practice that incorporates heightened awareness. Labeling or identifying birds is not the primary focus; instead, we intend to slow down and notice, using birds as our guides. Mindful birding deepens our relationship with birds and our connection with the natural world.”

“Whether it's observing a goldfinch delicately pecking at a sunflower seed or witnessing a raptor stealthily hunting its prey, the profound sense of wonder experienced when we slow down and immerse ourselves in nature is truly remarkable. Research demonstrates the mental and physical health advantages derived from engaging with the natural world.”

As the day progressed, we put these statements into practice, as we watched a Swainson’s hawk sitting in a large cottonwood tree while clutching a rabbit in its talons. We surmised it was a young bird whose eyes were larger than its stomach, not knowing quite what to do with such large quarry. Swainson’s typically capture grasshoppers and small rodents. Oops! The highlight came when my traveling companion spotted a barn owl with young in a tree hollow. We all became “mindful” emitting oohs and ahhs to express our delight. For Meg, this was her moment as she focused her powerful camera lens and nailed the perfect photo to capture the moment- mindful photography!

The workshop was emphatic that mindful birding is for everyone, all inclusive, regardless of their seeming limitations or reservations. Bird language was stressed for the blind, which I rely on for songbirds who are often hidden in foliage. This week, I will be presenting birds to an assisted living facility in Logan. I plan to attached a window feeder so residents can enjoy them from their central meeting room: Another mindful bird activity.

“There are times when the primary intention of Mindful Birding may be self-care. And, there are other times when it may be more relational – a search for a deep connection with nature through our love and curiosity about birds.” Mindful birding network

Jack Greene for Bridgerland Audubon Society Let us get mindful about Utah’s Wild Birds!

Credits:
Image: Courtesy Pixabay, Beto MdP, Contributor https://pixabay.com/photos/goldfinch-bird-animal-wildlife-7228334/
Audio: Courtesy & © Kevin Colver https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections/kevin-colver
Text: Jack Greene, Bridgerland Audubon, https://bridgerlandaudubon.org/
Additional Reading: Jack Greene & Lyle W Bingham, Webmaster, Bridgerland Audubon, https://bridgerlandaudubon.org/

Additional Reading:

Jack Greene’s Postings on Wild About Utah, https://wildaboututah.org/author/jack/

As a postscript Jack wrote:
Numerous resources and organizations are working towards greater
inclusivity in outdoor spaces, particularly in the birding community. Some
notable groups include:

• Anti-racist Collective of Avid Birders, https://www.instagram.com/antiracist.avid.birders/
• BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, https://www.instagram.com/bipocbirdingclubofwi/
• Feminist Bird Club, https://www.instagram.com/feministbirdclub
• Philly Queer Birders, https://www.instagram.com/phillyqueerbirders/
• Urban Collective, https://urbanbirdcollective.org/

The American Psychological Association's Inclusive Language Guide is an excellent starting point for guidance on inclusive language.

A Good IDEA for Birding, Birdability, [accessed November 18, 2024], https://www.birdability.org/a-good-idea-for-birding

Lundin M, Bombaci S. Making outdoor field experiences more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community. Ecol Appl. 2023 Jul;33(5):e2771. doi: 10.1002/eap.2771. Epub 2022 Dec 29. PMID: 36271764. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36271764/

Yuhas, Daisy, Five Ways to Connect With Nature and Boost Your Mood No Matter Your Schedule, Audubon Magazine, Fall 2024, https://www.audubon.org/magazine/five-ways-connect-nature-and-boost-your-mood-no-matter-your-schedule

McGlashen, Andy, Donna Posont Helps Blind People Become Birders—and Whatever Else They Want To Be, Audubon Magazine, Fall 2024, https://www.audubon.org/magazine/donna-posont-helps-blind-people-become-birders-and-whatever-else-they-want-be

Twelve sweaty, 2nd-grade birders and one worn out teacher stumbled into the shade of the Green Canyon trailhead bathroom facility. It was nearly 90 degrees under the bluebird Utah sky. No one had been quite prepared for the sun, heat, and amount of water they’d need for the journey; they were only halfway done with the hike. Students had discovered several birds along the hike with their binoculars (e.g., Golden Eagle, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Black-Billed Magpie, and Townsend’s Solitaire), but by the time they reached the trailhead bathroom, their water bottles were empty, their bodies baked, and fatique was setting in.

As the weary birders rested in the shade of the outhouse, they noticed a trail crew from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) relaxing in some maples nearby, taking a break from their digging and construction project. “You guys look hot, want some water?” called a young DNR crewman. Of course, a chorus of positive replies echoed from the 7-and-8-year-olds. The crewman got out an orange Home Depot cooler and slung it on the back of a work trailer, “Here you go!” and another went to a fancy pull-behind trailer on their work truck, which was equipped with a hose and a nozzle, “This is drinking water too!” The kids dispersed, some leaning their head under the cooler spout and others tentatively holding their mouth wide open, like a baby robin waiting for regurgitated worms, for the crewman to jet water into mouths, still only partially filled with grown-up teeth. Kids laughed and the whole DNR crew chuckled. As kids were drinking a commotion started near the pull-behind trailer with the water hose. What had been a hose and nozzle for administering drinks had become a cooling fountain station. Water was being launched into the air and kids were dancing around underneath with screams of joy. After a minute or two, the teacher gathered the students, thanked the crew, grabbed a picture with them, and started their trip back seeming more refreshed than ever.

Spontaneous moments, unrepeatable circumstances. These are the memory makers. These kids may likely forget every bird they saw on their hike, but they’ll never forget the relief from the heat by playing in the crewman’s water fountain, or leaning under a cooler to grab a quick drink. As a wise outdoor educator, Eric Newell, once told me “Never be too busy outdoors to stop and experience something that excites the kids.”

This is Dr. Joseph Kozlowski and I am Wild About Outdoor Education in Utah!

Credits:

Images: Courtesy & Copyright Joseph Kozlowski, Photographer, Used by Permission
Featured Audio: Courtesy & Copyright © Kevin Colver, https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections/kevin-colver
Text:     Joseph Kozlowski, Edith Bowen Laboratory School, Utah State University https://edithbowen.usu.edu/
Additional Reading Links: Joseph Kozlowski & Lyle Bingham

Additional Reading:

Joseph (Joey) Kozlowski’s pieces on Wild About Utah: https://wildaboututah.org/author/joseph-kowlowski/

Kozlowski, Joseph, Learning Through Birding, Wild About Utah, October 9, 2023, https://wildaboututah.org/learning-through-birding/