August is a bittersweet time. Daytime weather is often gorgeously warm, topped off with cooler evenings. There are still opportunities for outdoor fun, even after dinner. But darkness comes earlier each day. Every new day brings us closer to the end of summer — it always goes too fast. So, I have an invitation. Make time to be still, slow down and take in some of the amazing events in nature that happen all around us.
I had a few opportunities to do that this summer. One day, while taking a break from gardening under the blazing sun, I sat on our bench in the shade of a graceful yellow birch tree. As I sipped on some lusciously cool water, I glanced to my right, having seen some movement among the tall grasses and meadow flowers that we let grow wild. Allowing some parts of our yard to be natural offers seeds, blossoms and shelter for native insects, birds and small mammals.
I was thrilled to see two small gray birds vigorously yanking on fibers in a stalk from one of last year’s wildflowers. Part of “wilding” our yard includes rotational mowing so there are always some areas with dead stems and flower heads. As I watched, I realized these birds were blue gray gnatcatchers, a species that I had never seen in my yard through 20 years of
observations. If I hadn’t taken time to sit and rest on the bench, I might not have seen them this year either.
These diminutive birds, only four inches long, are widespread but not abundant. Because of their blue gray coloration, they are harder to notice than more colorful species. Their soft wheezy call is the best way to locate them. When viewed, their long tail and white eye-ring are distinctive field marks. I enjoyed several minutes of peaceful observation, watching both male and female extract and fly away with fibers trailing behind. Moments later, they’d return to repeat the behavior. The nest site must have been close by.
It would have taken much more focused observations to find their nest high among the
branches of the hardwood trees. The inner part of the nest is lined with plant fibers, held
together with spider webs while the outer part is covered with lichen and bits of tree bark. When the leaves drop in the fall, I may look for it but finding it won’t be easy.
As the summer progressed, other moments of stillness yielded lovely encounters with wild
neighbors. This year seemed to be a particularly good year for fireflies, at least in my yard. It takes effort to go outside in a dark area when staying in a lit, comfortable room is more our routine. Yet we miss a lot if we don’t venture out to look, listen and just BE on a warm summer evening.
There are at least 15 species of fireflies that live in New Hampshire (out of 175 species that live in the U.S.). To ensure that they can find a mate of the same species, each type has its own pattern for flashing its light. The color and pattern can also indicate its sex. While I don’t have a guide to the light code of firefly species, I could easily notice that there were differences in the frequency and duration of flashes, as the insects flitted across my meadow. It’s not hard, but it takes intention.
Nest building and firefly mating seasons are over for this year. However, August and the fall bring plenty of opportunities for paying attention to changes around you. Look for different flowers along the roadsides as the late bloomers add their colors to the landscape. Hunt for monarch butterfly caterpillars on milkweed and keep track of their growth and metamorphosis. Listen to the sounds of crickets, their rate of chirping will slow as the temperatures cool. Walk in the woods and breathe deeply, notice the smell of fall and how it’s different from summer.
The summer has passed, but taking time to REALLY observe nature can help you slow down for a few minutes and will surely provide a reward if you are open to experiencing something new and amazing.