Interconnectedness with Nature(Module 2: Science 9 Pathways)

STORY TIME! Back in my undergraduate days at UBC, one of the courses that I took was BIOL 427: Ornithology and Herpetology (the

study of birds and reptiles). For this course, we had a group project that involved doing a survey of bird species in a region of our choice. My subgroup went to the Richmond Dyke, biking up and along it, stopping at regular intervals to record observations of birds.

While doing this project, we were often asked by passersby what we were doing. I suppose we looked rather conspicuous, what with our binoculars and bird books and all. A rough translation of a conversation my project partner and had with a middle-aged Chinese man is as follows. (I was around, but my Chinese speaking ability is quite poor so I was not an active participant.)

Him: “Hi, what are you doing around here?”

Her: “We are doing a project for school. We’re seeing what kinds of birds are around here.”

Him: “There are different kinds of birds? I thought there were just big birds and little birds.”

Uh oh. For Biology majors like us, this was a truly cringe-worthy moment. What do you mean big birds and little birds? For this course, we had to memorize 167 local birds: what they were called, what they looked like, and for some, what they sounded like. How could this man reduce all of the fantastic biodiversity around us, into so few words? It was all I could do to avoid being offended.

Unfortunately, most of you will not actually go on to take fabulous courses such as BIOL 427. You will not get the experience that I did. But I think we owe it to ourselves and to the beautiful earth we live in to become aware of and learn how to recognize at least some of the creatures that we share this planet with. A study found that school-aged children were able to identify Pokemon better than they were able to identify local plants and animals. (Here is the link to the article, for those interested). We need to do better and make more efforts to be connected with this world around us.

The goal of this week’s module is to get you better acquainted with the nature around you.

TASK #1: MORE THAN JUST “LITTLE BIRDS” AND “BIG BIRDS” (1 HOUR)Go on a birding adventure this week. The Richmond Dyke, a local park, and even your own backyard are all excellent

choices. If possible, go during the early morning (~6-8AM) or afternoon, which is when birds are most active. Avoid noontime.

During your adventure, which should take approximately 30 minutes, take note of the birds around you.

1) Take selfies with 3 different species of birds you observe along the way. A few other options are listed below: For small birds (which tend to be flighty and startle easily), I would recommend taking two separate photos…one of

the bird and one of you next to where the bird is/was. A video of the bird, with your voice narrating what you see. If you cannot see the bird but you can hear it (e.g. up in a tree), record an audio clip of the birdsong.

2) Try to identify the birds using the short local bird guide Ms. Au has made, which can be found on the following pages. If you have found a bird that is not on the list, simply list it as “unknown”. (Or, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can post your “evidence” in the discussion board and Ms. Au can try to help you identify it if it is a bird she knows. A discussion thread has already been created for this purpose.)

Submit your photos and videos/audio (or links to the videos/audio, depending on what portal allows).

BACKYARD BIRDSSPECIES NAME IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS WHERE TO FIND IT

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD Very smallIridescent red gorget (area around throat; pronounced in males where it is used to attract females)

Song: High-pitched, very distinctive, and squeaky; good for identifying when there is a hummingbird in the area (and then you just look for the very small blob flying above your head, or the small blob perched at the top of a tree)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiidrwWv3p0https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/sounds

Trees, bushes, places where the hummingbird feels safe (e.g. with its back to a wall or a branch)

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE Quite smallDistinct black ‘cap’ on its head; no other common local bird has this

Song very distinctiveMating song: “Cheese-bur-ger”Warning call: “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee” (the more “dees” in its call, the more unsafe it feels)https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/sounds

TreesRarely on the ground

AMERICAN ROBIN Medium-sized Often on the ground

Distinct red-orange breast feathersDo not confuse with Spotted Towhee

Song can be tricky to recognize, but is very watery and melodic. Notes come in series of triplets.https://www.bird-sounds.net/american-robin/

Often alongside other members of same species

SPOTTED TOWHEE Medium-sizedDistinct black head and orange/white bellyDo not confuse with American Robin

Song:Two quick notes and then a trillCall: dying cat soundhttps://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/sounds

Often perched on a branch; sometimes on the ground if foragingWill often be found alone

NORTHERN FLICKER Medium-sizedDistinct black “beard” and dotted breast feathers

Common calls (very distinct):“wick-wick-wick-wick” (first call on website)“Clear!” (second call on website) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/sounds

Often perched on a branch; sometimes on the groundWill often be found alone

DARK-EYED JUNCO Small- to medium-sized:When it flies, you will see a distinct flash of white tail feathers. These are used to signal to other birds of the

Often on the ground

same species.The head and neck area will often be darker or greyer than the rest of its brownish body.

Bird sounds:Not distinct

EUROPEAN STARLING Small-medium sized

Songs and calls melodic but not particularly memorable or distinct

Often with other members of the same speciesOften found on the ground foraging

COMMON CITY BIRDS

SPECIES NAME IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS WHERE TO FIND IT

AMERICAN CROW Medium/large-sized Almost anywhere

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL LargeDistinct red patch on beakGulls that are not fully grown will be dirtier looking (the picture is of an adult)

Almost anywhere

ROCK PIGEON Medium-sizedColour pattern varies from bird to bird, but all will have iridescent green neck feathers

Almost anywhere, very common

MARSHLAND BIRDS

SPECIES NAME IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS WHERE TO FIND IT

SNOW GOOSE Large and obnoxious Large fields or at the Richmond Dyke, in flocks

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Medium-sizedMale has red wings and is a black bird. Gee, I wonder where its name comes from!(Female looks very different though.)

Song:Melodic trill (just listen to the first “song”)https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/sounds

Marshland, e.g. Richmond dyke area. You will not find this bird in a regular backyard.

MALLARD Large-sized, duckMale and female look very different, but both have a distinct patch of blue feathers on their wings

Near bodies of water

GREAT BLUE HERON Very large and stealthy Marshland, e.g. Richmond dyke area. You will not find this bird in a regular backyard.

TASK #2: SIT SPOT (10 MINUTES) (Rationale: https://inmynature.life/ideal-sit-spot/)

Identify a location outside the house where you can be immersed in nature. This could be in a backyard, in the middle of a big field (away from crowds), on a nearby bench in a park, or elsewhere. Leave your phone behind. Do not bring anything except for yourself, the clothes you have on you, and perhaps a blanket to sit on.

Sit there for 10 minutes. Don’t do anything except use your 5 senses to observe the nature around you. In particular, give your attention to things you might never have noticed before. Let your thoughts wander.

Feel free to repeat this activity (in exactly the same location every time) multiple times this week. However, this is not required.

TASK #3: REFLECTION (45 MINUTES)All living things are interconnected with each other and with the spaces that they live in. There has been much media coverage about reduced pollution and increased wildlife visits due to reduced human traffic, lately. This has led to discussions about the extent of human impacts on the environment.

Read two of the following articles:

1) First Person: COVID-19 is not a silver lining for the climate, says UN Environment chief https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061082

2) COVID-19 negatively impacting policy-makers’ abilities to address climate change https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/16/how-covid-19-could-impact-climate-crisis

3) How can we be sustainable post-Covid 19? http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200415-how-can-we-be-sustainable-post-covid-19

4) What the coronavirus pandemic tells us about our relationship with the natural worldhttps://thenarwhal.ca/what-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-tells-us-about-relationship-natural-world/?fbclid=IwAR0m6E8KFE6v-lC4NBaeaOYhPblStBRgFsimUgR2UR4Vm__RZSpHXAVm6lM

Choose one of the following prompts. Write a 1-2 paragraph response to it. Make sure you refer to at least one of the articles in your response.

1) How close is your relationship to the environment? Which of your personal values, beliefs, or experiences help inform your opinion? After things have settled down and restrictions are lifted, what steps will you take to deepen your relationship with the nature around you?

2) Suppose you are a government official. Describe one environmental policy you would be passionate about enacting. (In other words, what change would you most like to see in the way humans use and interact with the nature around them?) Which of your personal values, beliefs, or experiences help inform your opinion?

IMAGE CREDITS: Allaboutbirds.org:

Snow goose Male Red-winged blackbird Glaucous-winged gull American crow Rock pigeon Female Anna’s hummingbird Black-capped chickadee Spotted towhee

Other images:

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/311874342922187006/?nic_v1=1apb%2BYA5zEN8RaawoN7lyk3e6pS9Qdh %2BO4Bd5zbKnPxZSZU5ybnit1B5Cp3mRzq2hY

https://animals.net/mallard-duck/ https://www.thespruce.com/pictures-of-mallards-4121965 https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/431290101790210779/ https://www.familyhandyman.com/garden/unique-traits-of-the-animated-annas-hummingbird/ https://www.perkypet.com/articles/species-spotlight-american-robin https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-attract-juncos-386248 http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/

Dark+eyed+Junco+easily+recognized+white+outer+tail+feathers+Watch+these+birds+around+your+feeder+yard+This+seen+Crystal+area/9048193/story.html

https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/identification/starlings/european-starling.php