When you can find it nowhere else 

 

People come to the Refuge for all sorts of reasons: to watch birds and other wildlife, to enjoy wildflowers, and for various forms of exercise. Sometimes, though, visitors come here just to enjoy smells and sounds carried on the breeze, its expansive vistas, and the opportunities to relax and think. Woven through these experiences is an often under appreciated benefit of the Refuge, that is, the soothing and sometimes healing that derives from coming here. Of course, being with nature makes us slow down, something that is more and more important every day as our lives become busier. But, it's more than that.

 

During my time as a refuge volunteer, I've often encountered visitors by themselves, and I've sometimes engaged them in a bit of low key chit-chat. After they figure out that I 'work here' and that no one else is around, more often that not, casual chit-chat has led to a visitor opening up about something big that's been going on in their life. I remember one fellow whose close friend had recently been killed in a motorcycle accident. Hours later on the same day, I encountered another fellow who had just broken up with his long-time girlfriend. Both guys were trying to deal with the loss of these significant people from their lives. One July day I encountered a woman sitting by herself on one of the Picnic Area tables, who was trying to decide whether or not to return to her job as a middle school teacher - she'd had a rough year. And finally, I remember a beloved Refuge employee, who was raising a daughter alone, and who came down to the lighthouse area with her on a regular basis, to have serious discussions about all the things that go on in a teenager's life.

 

My guess is that the Refuge has saved many lives. It has certainly made many lives better.  

Article, Paul Hamilton; photo, David Moynahan 

 

It was rumored that there was a cistern beneath the lighthouse floor and these photos confirm that, indeed, a cistern was in place.

Article, Tom Baird , Board Vice-President; photos courtesy Craig Kittendorf 

 

The concept of jouraling is fairly self-explanatory. We've all probably done this in our lives at one time or another when we've loved some place that we have traveled to or when we've chronicled exciting events. It's simply a matter of keeping a small notebook that can be used to record information.

Wildlife journaling is a more specific type of record-keeping that is useful to help us remember our sightings when we are bird watching or simply hiking and enjoying nature. Whether it's a plant or a bird, or a simple wilderness adventure, writing down information can be used months or years later. Small sketches of what you've seen are, obviously, very valuable.

The journal needs to be rather small, but still large enough that you can write legibly, close it up and stuff it into a vest pocket. There is no exact note-taking style used. Journals are very subjective. There is no right or wrong way to create one. The notes you take only need to be interpreted by yourself, so indicate a plant or animal species (if you know it), give little snatches of color information, note the date recorded and weather conditions, plus odd nuances of movement where animals are concerned, or maybe early blooming in a plant - these are all details you can jot down in your own shorthand. No one will stand behind you to take away points because you haven't written a complete sentence.

The real fun of a journal is to reflect on your notes at later times. By doing this over longer intervals, comparisons and indications of established patterns of activity or distribution can be recorded. In general, a journal can simply allow you to relive the excitement you experienced when you first wrote something down that was significant.

In the above photo of Wallace Hughes' (former and longtime art editor for Florida Wildlife Magazine) Bachman's Warbler illustrations, he obviously took his notes seriously and made some very exacting and descriptive mention of the bird in question. You can go from that extreme to my diminutive wild strawberry plant sketch made sometime in the early 1980s, where I noted that the stem and leaves were "medium green". Vague as that is, I still remember when I made the sketch and where I saw the plant.

Sometimes if you love what you see and love what you are doing in the moment, a journal can preserve that excitement for a time further on down the road. Start a journal now. It's fun. 

For more information, read about keeping a bird watching journal. But, remember, you can create a journal related to almost any interest. Here is a second article focusing on reasons journals are helpful.

Credit, the editor 

 

 

Biscuit Brunch
Membership Chair, Susan Cason, plus several other volunteers, created a warm biscuit brunch for members on February 5 at the Refuge. There were 35 members in attendance. It was a great opportunity to have members get together, enjoy good food, and chat late into the morning. "It was a great success, and we may make this an annual event," said Susan. We appreciate everyone's attendance, and we really appreciate the hard work that Susan and others put in to make this happen.  

Birding Tour Will Be Led By Don Morrow February 18
Winter Birding Tours - 9 am and 1:00 p.m. Behind the gates with Don Morrow. Call 850-925-6121 to register.

Civil War Re-enactors, March 3
The annual re-enactors' march from the Lighthouse as part of the Battle of Natural Bridge history, takes place March 3. Call the Refuge at 850-925-6121 for more information.

First Sunday at the Refuge, March 5
This 2 pm event takes place at the Visitors Center - Celebrating the legacy of Aldo Leopold's land ethic and how to apply it to present and future land, water, and wildlife protection with Gail Fishman. First Sunday.