Nature Walk

We homeschool our two children, ages 9 and 7.  One of the best things about homeschooling is that we have time to wander the city during the day.  We take our dog to the park everyday, however, on some days, we nature journal and observe while we are walking.  Our favorite spot is a little neighborhood park that is tucked in amongst huge trees and brownstones.  Today we spotted:  a grackle, female cardinal, starlings, and house sparrows.  We also heard a cardinal--could've been male or female.

These are some of our other observations:

house sparrow egg fallen from a nest above, located inside a street lamp
We decided this is not a good location for a nest as we discovered a fallen baby bird in the same spot a few days ago.
Time to move sparrow family!

Poppies at the park
Yesterday we noticed the poppies were blooming so we decided to nature journal them today.  There's also a beautiful yellow rosebush beside the poppies, but those huge, gorgeous orange blooms were just stunning to observe up close.

Here are poppies in 3 stages:

Poppy bud

Poppy in bloom

Center of poppy after losing petals

our nature journal sketches of poppies


We did a lot of bird watching at the park, and then suddenly, something else flew by and landed close, and let us observe up close!

Tiger swallowtail butterfly

Mike discovered a "roly poly" bug--these bugs go by lots of names: potato bug, pill bug, and more.  We call them roly poly's.  This one was much darker in color than the ones we usually find under rocks and logs.

Out and about in the city

House Finch spotted in Medford, MA near Mystic River

same house finch, different view

Now this is an Urban Ranger--covered in mud, climbing fences, and very serious about it all!

Working things out

This place is a page where we are working out some of our UR ideas.  It's general reflections, observations, and a place we plan to post lots of pictures.  Keep checking in to see us evolve this space and feel free to comment and offer ideas or thoughts!

Painted by local residents as part of a beautification program at our favorite park

rebuilding a flower

baby bird at Pops', Hyde Park, Boston, MA

it is coming...

I've lived in New England my whole life, and I love it.  There is no place in the world I would rather call home.  Don't get me wrong, I can truly appreciate the heat and sun in Florida, and the beauty and warmth of the west coast, but the seasons will always keep me here.

And today was a day that reminds me why.  It's been a loooooong winter this year, and everybody feels it.  Not so much snow, but the cold--the frigid, bone-chilling cold that has felt relentless this winter, has made this winter seem never-ending.  Dark days and frozen mornings, biting winds, icicles hanging dangerously overhead, the storm watches and winter warnings--it's been just too intense, and completely depressing.

But today was the first day in what feels like forever, that the sun sparkled, and the air held that familiar smell of green on it's way.  We left our jackets in the car, opened windows, and just stood still and let the sun warm our faces as the vitamin D sank deep into our bodies.  Oooh, it felt good.  And as I faced the sun, wearing just a sweater, chatting with a neighbor at the park while the kids and dogs ran about, I remembered--this is why I love New England.  Each year takes us on a weather journey with powerful (and sometimes debilitating) heat, summer winds and rain, cicadas singing and crickets chirping into the night, to vibrant color and warm, cozy smells, and harvest and preparation as we move towards the deep, dark, cold of white mounds, slick roads, and glistening stillness.  And then comes a day like today, when we can truly appreciate the hope and wonder of what is coming--the browns turning to green, the freedom of bare skin warming in the sun, the music flying overhead as the world awakes to spring, and then the cycle continues.

What it means to be an Urban Ranger

One cold, busy Monday afternoon in December, my children and I were running errands in a local city square.  There were snow mounds crusted over with black and mixed with street salt.  People bustled about and cars lined up in traffic all around us as we stopped at a red light preparing to head home.

Suddenly, my son yelled out from the back seat, "There goes a bald eagle!"  I quickly looked up and to my incredible surprise, he was right.  We watched a beautiful bald eagle fly right over the square--the traffic, the busy-ness, the dirty city snow piles.  White tail feathers and head seemed to sparkle as time seemed to stand still for a moment.  She soared beyond our sight, and we were left screaming with astonishment and delight!

I've lived in this area for more than 4 decades and never once saw anything even close to this majestic bird fly by.  To be honest, I hadn't ever spent much time looking.

This story reminds me what it means to be an Urban Ranger.  Seeing that eagle fly over us made us feel humble.  We are so small compared to the wonders in nature around us.  And we recognized that sighting as a gift.  

Urban Rangers are always seeking these gifts, and are always ready to receive them when they appear.