Respect the Rest

About a year ago, I scooped up enough slough water for a special project I was making, but when I brought the pail back, I saw little minnows inside the pail happily swimming.

They didn’t deserve to be fossilized for the sake of my project, so I cut through the brush to toss them back into their habitat.

That’s when I happened to startle a mature buck resting by the water’s edge.

Noticing the massive rack first, I was reminded of a popular song about a buck’s rack.

In case you are wondering, deer are much larger when you’re only a few feet away.

Everything about that deer was impressive.

Back to the rack… I wondered how it managed to stand up without tipping over due to antler’s heft.

When I described the Buck, I explained it looked like a statue in front of a popular outdoor store I frequently pass on the highway.

That said, don’t be alarmed.

Getting cozy with a critter in the wild doesn’t necessarily mean you must hike into remote regions.

You could do that, but there’s an easier way to access authentic wildlife viewing.

Wildlife cams capture all the highlights for you and provide ambient listening pleasure.

Wildlife Cams Benefitting all Ages:

Younger viewers: I was at a conference recently and during one of the breaks, a conversation sprung up about wildlife cameras.

In a local elementary science class students were documenting what went on in an eagle’s nest.

Via the Eagle Cam, students took data and created graphs which they used for a report they were writing.

The result? Enthusiastic young conservationists.

All ages: Some accounts have shown that groups of people who enjoyed listening to nature sounds such as birds singing or streams, saw a 184 percent improvement in overall health outcomes (Buxton, R.; Pearson, Amber, A., C. (March 22, 2021) A Synthesis of Health Benefits of Natural Sounds and their Distribution in National Parks; Proceedings of the National Academy of Science; PNAS).

Aside from the pure enjoyment that comes from appreciating wildlife in their natural habitat, it sparks creativity.

It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy some mental rest and rejuvenation.

Enjoy the joy!