The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Nature Journaling and Field Sketching › Noticing Themes in Nature
-
During a recent wandering at the downtown waterfront in my hometown, I noticed how the snow at the base of trees, deciduous and coniferous, melts in a ring around the base. Why? I thought that perhaps the tree itself, being alive, would exude some heat (however minor). So I looked at manmade/non-organic objects but they too often had a ring at the base so that can't be the reason (or at least not the whole reason). What about solar energy heating the bark? A drip line from the tree's branches perhaps as I noticed that evergreens had larger rings around them than their deciduous counterparts. But that could also be from reduced snow that falls at the base due to the tree's canopy? Time to do some research.
-
I became really absorbed with drawing the individual capillary like patterns on this leaf, which when i was done resembled both a lung and a river system, beautiful pattern! I walk past this plant everyday, and have never stopped to really look at it - I am really enjoying this opportunity to finally pay attention to the complexity of something as simple as a leaf.
-
These sorts of patterns draw my attention as well. Broccoli look like miniature trees, clouds resemble the patterns of settled sand at the shoreline, a river with its tributaries resembles our circulatory system, a flock of birds, especially when they turn as a group, resemble a school of fish. I'm happy to hear someone else notices these quirky similarities between very different "systems."
-
-
We just had a big northeaster with snow, rain, wind so not possible to go sit outside. Will go out shortly to watch the ocean. See how the various winter waterfowl (e.g., eiders, buffleheads) are weathering the storms
-
-
-
-
Nov 23, 2020 - Lamanai, Belize Example #1 - Leafcutter Ants working during the day. Example #2 - Bat falcons only eat a bird's head. Brain and eyes taste good? Maybe Cornell can shed some light on this for me? Thanks.
-
I need to practice with themes for awhile and maybe brainstorm some journal topics here. I went outside and was looking for patterns when I saw the cottontail and felt compelled to sketch it. I didn’t have much time though and I struggled with proportions, but it was fun.
-
Many questions come to mind, what do they eat, do they feel the cold, do they join other flocks elsewhere. It’s a challenge to sit outside in nature due to winter weather but my backyard feeders provide me lots of movement. The house sparrows dart around in groups, the leaves are all being blown off now, patterns as they wave their final farewells. They provide part of the ecosystem with fertilizer in the spring. How many leaves are too many? This module has been really interesting, and as others have said a real help to focus and be present in nature.
-
After an incredibly hot summer with no rain,, I notice the change in my vegetable garden. Tiny, tiny butter nut squash!
-
-
I spent some time in my local park. The grassy areas had just been seeded, so the sprinklers were going on and off around me. I noticed the sparrows drank water from the puddles, but the grackles waited until the water shut off to walk around the grass. Do bugs crawl up out of the water? Does the freshly planted seed show up better in the wet grass? Does the wet grass feel good on their toes? I wouldn't have noticed this had I not been an intentional observer.
-
I went to the park for a walk, and looked for examples of scale, quantity and changes. I was amazed how different locations, in the park, host a different number of pine trees! Birds seem to prefer the more quite area, as they fly away when I approach carefully. Taking a close look at those pine trees, I was surprised to see different shape and size cones and realized I needed to do some research about pine trees reproductive cycle! Some questions came to my mind: why do some trees have so much more mature cones than others? Maybe the wind has influence? How long does a mature cone takes to take shape? Female cones seem to grow mostly in the upper branches; does that happen always?
-
-
I'm observing the cicadas buzzing not only cycles as a group, but increases in intensity around early evening. Also, as of the last week, the intensity of their droning has waned. A possible explanation of the buzzing could be: is it to signal a food source? is it to signal for a mate? The lessening intensity perhaps is indicating the mating season is over, the life cycle of the cicadas is coming to an end and their eggs are laid for the next cycle? The more I observe, the more I marvel at the body of knowledge that has been gained from those who've gone before me and made the observations we have now that encompass the field of biology. It also causes me to appreciate those who didn't have technology at their fingertips and had to gain knowledge of their world by observing the patterns and seasons for their very survival.
-
Mushrooms growing in the middle of an oak tree. Themes: Scale & Quantity, Patterns, Changes.
-
I wander how grass and plants stay green under several centimetres of snow and ice in winter. Perhaps they have some mecanism of adaption, as birds do, but I do not know. I noticed some tiny birds stay here in winter, and their tiny feet in the ice and snow seem not to bother them.
-
Many themes, it was a challenge to decide which to work on first.
-
May, I like your page and your watercolor of the plant. I especially appreciated your very first note about it's a beautiful little plant.
-
-
There is so much to wonder about and enjoy in our world. I am inspired by the other course attendees! Please keep sharing your journals and thoughts.
-
Listening to the cicadas I was struck with how the rise and fall of the intensity/loudness seemed synchronized among the cicadas in my maple tree. Why and how do they do that? I have learned much about cicadas, but haven't answered that question yet. Still working on it.
-
Finches like to visit our feeder when it is full, but it’s always a flurry of feathers when it begins to run low, and other kinds of birds seem to visit more often when the feeder is less full. - is it that it takes them a while to remember about this easy food source? - do the other birds not want the food when the feeder is full due to the timing? - is it harder for the other birds to get on the feeder with all the finches on it? - do they want to stock up while the food is there so they won’t need it until the feeder runs low again? - all of the above?
-
This was an easy lesson for me. Often when we are traveling or hiking my husband and I will work through the process you have described here. It comes naturally to us. I created the entry below from an observation we made just the other day.
-
I always thought that the dew trapped in spiderwebs was just beautiful, I loved taking pictures of the fantastic "pearls" shining early morning. One day, as I was visiting my home Country Colombia, I started climbing a mountain with my camera looking for birds, but the amazing flora captivated me so much, the sun was rising and all the plants were covered with tiny water droplets. A few hours later, as I was heading down, it was really hot and I was so surprised to to see that even though the plants were dried, some of the spiderwebs were still completely cover with water drops, as they were at dawn.
- Perhaps silk refrigerates water and protect it from evaporation so the spider has fresh water to drink
- Maybe spiders attract insects with water in hot weather
- Water trapped in the silk takes longer to evaporate.
-
These are really beautiful (photos and drawings)!
-
I really like the way you drew and painted the water droplets. I would think that would be hard. How did you do it? If you don't mind my asking?
-
A fallen tree with beautiful patterns and shadows as decomposition starts. Are insects making these patterns or is it just water prompted rotting?
-
Flowers on shrubs attract certain insects; for example, butterflies & bees. Flowers turn into berries and the birds feed on the berries. A garden lizard (Anole) flashes his bright red gizzard to ward off other males. He is protecting his territory. Common Gallinules protect their young by keeping them close by and if they wander off the adults are always aware of their location. They show them how to find food. The young watch and learn from the adults.
Read More: