Who Are You?

Who Are You?

I can’t believe I started with that. But it is fitting. Long ago when I could stand to listen to the radio; The Who and Queen were two of my quickest channel changers. Now that Shania is appearing on Classic Country stations; I am pretty much radio free America. I learned a long time ago that if you don’t like what you are hearing; you don’t have to listen.

Really, who are you? I know what many of you are thinking right now. Why I am a __. That isn’t what I mean. I’m not referring to what you do to eke out a living. Everyone has to do that; although some find a way not to. I mean who are you in reality? What do you enjoy doing? What do you sit and daydream about while eking? What do you do for relaxing and relieving stress? What do you find interesting?

We were not built to quit learning once we walk out of whatever we graduated from. I know many who quit right at that point. They quickly settled into a routine that they will never leave and they think that is the way it works; forever. I really feel sorry for them. You have heard the saying many times that you learn something new every day “you should. It isn’t really that hard.

Have you ever actually taken the effort to find out what that funny looking bug crawling on your milkweed plant is? The resources are there for all to use. It isn’t really that hard to find the right answers anymore. The only requirement needed is a little effort put forth. First you find a closely matching photo and go from there. Inquiring minds will not stop at just a name. They will wander to native or introduced and then to life cycles and habitat. Before you know it; you just learned something new today! Keep on going.

My mind tends to wander from day to day and season to season. Primarily it functions in two stages. Getting ready for winter and getting through winter. Producing and procuring food is pretty much number one. I always have something else going on too. I need to do something other than eke and watch tomatoes get ripe. That is where birds, bugs, damselflies and wildflowers come in handy. There is always something out there that you have never taken time to identify and learn about. You don’t have to go far.

Some believe that the outdoors is only hunting and fishing. That is so untrue. Besides hunting and fishing have seasons and limits. I need to do something interesting every single day that doesn’t cost much of anything. How about you? Recreation does not have to cost, neither does learning. I’m old and I have stuff to make alone time more enjoyable, It was all acquired over time and really as the big picture goes was not that expensive due to the enjoyment it has given.

The photo with this article is the stuff I had behind my truck seat on June 10. That is my stuff. Let’s face it we are all just getting older and poorer. So who are you? I guess I am a real outdoorsman and life-long learner.

This is my August 2016 article for Two-Lane Livin

(c) 2016 High Virginia Outdoors  Photo (c) 2016 High Virginia Images ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THE GIFT

Buttonbush (c) 2013 HVI

People who choose to go through life with blinders on make me sad. I see so many who wander throughout our world like a train in a tunnel; staring straight ahead. Go, go, and go as fast as you can.  Hurry up, you have to be here and you have to be there. No time to stop, just go. You would be amazed at the things you fail to see. Slow down and just take a few moments out of your day to observe the little things that you are passing by.

I’m the one you see out there on the road trying to find someplace to turn around; so I can go back at look at something. Most of the time, it isn't anything of note. But, sometimes it is. Those are the good days. The skill of observation cannot be taught. It must be acquired over a long period of time and like anything of importance; it takes dedication. Unlike most things though; it doesn't cost you a thing. Nope, you don’t have to spend one little dime. The payoff is high and the cost is none. It makes you feel good when you find something new. What more could you ask for?

Have you ever found anything that has never been seen or recorded in your county or region? I have, quite a few times. Was I out there specifically looking for it? No, it was there at the same time I was and I saw it. Nothing has ever been in some exotic, hard to reach destination. Most of my good discoveries have been at some wide-spot in the road; while my dogs were peeing. You do not need one of those funny shirts with all of those empty pockets and a pith helmet to find stuff; as you would be lead to believe on TV. The only things you need are your eyes and the desire to learn. Learning in the outdoor world is a lifetime process. The ability to observe is the critical component in learning.

Now, you are thinking that maybe you’ll give it a try this spring. It is winter now, the landscape is barren and there is nothing out there to see. Nothing could be further from the truth. Go out to that overgrown weedy ditch-line beside your driveway and see just how many kinds of little brown birds you can identify. You will be surprised at the number of species you will encounter. Check out your local pond or lake after every winter storm, uncommon waterfowl species show up every year. Nobody ever knows they are there; unless someone sees them. It could be you.

If everyone would make the effort to give a gift that lasts a lifetime; our world will be a better place. Nature is a gift for all to enjoy. Encourage someone close to you to find the powers of observation. If not, cast the spell upon yourself and say Merry Christmas.

This is my article that first appeared in the December print edition of Two-Lane Livin 

(c) 2013 All Rights Reserved Photo (c) 2013 High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved.

Indigo Bunting in Winter Plumage

Indigo Bunting 1-16-09

We often encounter interesting things; when we least expect it.  Nobody expects to find a male Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), in the middle of January.  Definitely, not in the mountains of West Virginia.

I was walking through my yard, filling up the bird feeders, the sun was high and bright.  I walked by a blue junco; several times.  It took a little while to realize that the bright sun or my eyes were not causing a color illusion.

I rushed into the house to get my brand new Nikon D60; which had never even been outside before.  I quickly took several photos, with whatever settings were on the camera at the time.  You have to understand that I never even had the battery in the new camera; before this moment.  I had yet to do anything except try to read the owners manual.

Here is the result of the first digital photo; that I have ever taken.  A once in a lifetime capture of a  male Indigo Bunting; in winter plumage.  The northernmost wintering grounds for this species is southern Florida.
This photo was taken on January 16, 2009, at Norton in Randolph County, West Virginia.

Be observant and be prepared, you never know what opportunities may arise.