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Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Study Nature, love Nature,
stay close to Nature. It will never fail you.” But I can’t help but feel we could play a bigger part in giving back to nature. Every one of us takes something from nature every day, but very few of us give anything back. If you’re like me, you’re busy. You have a full-time job and you don’t have the time or extra cash to donate. Well, what if I told you that you don’t have to give every spare minute of your time or thousands of dollars a month to make an impact on nature AND in your community?
Don’t worry, none of it involves chaining yourself to a tree somewhere deep in the rainforest. There are easier ways to give back. Later, I will give you 3 very simple ways that you can give back to that thing we all love and enjoy, Nature.
This will probably not come as a shock to you, but people love nature and everything it has to offer. Did you know that 41% of all Americans look for a Nature destination when planning their vacations? Why is that? Not only are there huge medical benefits to being outdoors, like improving memory, fighting depression, and lowering blood pressure. But I like to think that in some way it’s because being out in nature brings back positive memories. Memories of that first family camping trip. Or maybe it’s the first time you looked over the mountains and how small they made you feel. Or maybe it’s just the smell of the decaying leaves and damp earth after rain. Basically, in a nutshell, it makes you and everyone else happy!
Nature is a very important part of all our lives. If it makes us that happy being in nature, imagine how much happier you would feel by giving just a little back to nature. There are so many ways to give. But I’m a firm believer that if you want to make a difference you have to start in your own backyard.
So, here are 3 very simple ways you can give back to nature right in your own backyard and in your community.
1. Volunteer at your local Animal shelter or wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
These facilities are always looking for volunteers to help with the maintenance and housekeeping. You don’t have to donate every weekend either. A couple of hours a month will go a long way. Sometimes the best we can give is our time.
2. Take care of your neighborhood wildlife.
It’s summer. It’s getting freaking hot out there. Would you leave your dogs or cats outside without any food or water? I really doubt it. So, make sure you keep your bird feeders full of seeds. If you don’t have a source of water yet, I highly recommend getting one. A bowl of fresh, cold water placed near your bird feeders will work, or you can invest in a fountain. There’s something about moving water that really brings in the birds. I made a simple fountain in my backyard for less than $50.00 and the birds love it.
3. Pick up trash
This one has become a sore spot for me lately. I can’t help noticing that there has been an increase in the amount of trash around White Rock Lake, a public lake I get many of my images. It really breaks my heart to know that thousands of bikers, joggers, dog walkers, and yes, wildlife photographers, enjoy the trail around the lake daily, and yet they step over the trash and plastic bottles as they go along their merry way. Maybe next time you’re out enjoying the outdoors you can take a moment to pick up trash. It only takes a few seconds to bend over and pick it up. So, let’s do it
There you have it, 3 simple ways that you can give back to nature and in the process, you’ll be helping the community where you live. I’m asking you, and challenging you, to do what you can to give back to the one thing that we all love and enjoy. Nature. Maybe if we all do a little each day, our Grandkids will get the opportunity to enjoy that happiness that comes with being in nature.
If this is your first time visiting my website or reading one of my blog posts, welcome, and thank you for joining us. Please subscribe here so you can receive updates on the next blog posts on Backyard Birding. You will also receive occasional discounts and newsletters. Please share my blog and galleries with family and friends! Remember to follow the Nature First and Leave No Trace principles and always strive to leave places better than you found them.
Until next time, keep the sun behind you and the birds in view.
David
