Awe of Nature

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend actress Lili Taylor’s book launch at the Discovery Center in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. There, she shared with the audience what brought her to the wonderful world of birds. On a break from acting, she sought the quiet of the Hudson Valley, where she owned a home and noticed bird songs. She found herself drawn into “a parallel universe,” one that was “full of life and the will to survive” (Turning to Birds, p. 5, 2025). Throughout her talk, she emphasized the importance of listening, a crucial skill both for her vocation as an actress and as a birder. I thought of this as I prepared to lead a walk, along with fellow birder Len Clupp, for Compeer and CompeerCORPS (pictured above) at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. How should I introduce those gathered here to that parallel universe? Behind me, I heard the familiar calls of a Gray Catbird. It was likely a male as they tend to do all the mewing. They make a wide array of sounds, each with different meanings. A trait that is believed to make the male more attractive to the female. This particular one was letting those in earshot know that we were on his territory. He flew a long way from his wintering grounds all along the Gulf of Mexico to claim this space and raise the next generation. I called everyone’s attention to his presence and shared the basics of the species. Gray Catbirds belong to the Mimidae family, which includes thrashers and mockingbirds. Much like the mockingbird, catbirds are mimics, able to recreate the songs of other birds. There was a nest obscured in the thicket of branches, about ten feet behind me. I was grateful for this bird’s unknowing cooperation. He opened the door to that parallel universe, Taylor wrote of.

In Spring, when the trees fill out and the birds disappear into the canopy or underbrush, listening becomes vital in identifying what’s around you. I stressed this as we made our way into Warbler Woods. Red-eyed Vireos bring mid-Atlantic forests alive with their incessant singing, and we could hear them around us. A very chatty species, they repeat their song, which famed naturalist Kenn Kaufman describes as the bird asking and answering its own question, from dawn to dusk. Their olive-green plumage makes the perfect camouflage. Fortunately, we were able to observe a few vireos on active nests and had a good look at an abandoned nest, likely due to its poor location. Two other common breeders could be heard, the American Redstart and the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Of the two, the American Redstart is the more striking. The mostly all black male flashes their orange patches, along the sides, wings, and tail, as it forages for small insects. The female or immature male happens to be a bit more muted but still features a beautiful plumage with yellow replacing the orange and gray, olive and white replacing the black. Their song skips quickly, highlighted by an accented warble before stopping abruptly. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher lacks the flashy colors of most warblers, but that does not mean one should overlook it. The male features a black supercilium that gives them a grumpy look. Both sexes feature white outer-tail feathers that stand out as the bird flits about hawking small insects. Its call can be best described as a muffled squeak, but somehow very noticeable.

These small songbirds are often found in close association with each other. The most likely reason, besides habitat, is that there is safety in numbers, especially when you happen to be a prey item. Of course, this close proximity can result in conflict. These territorial displays are characterized by the birds chirping like mad and chasing each other around at a dizzying pace. It often can appear to be playful, as if they were having fun. When studying bird behavior, one must be careful not to anthropomorphize their behavior. The sharing of space is mutually beneficial, not because they are seeking welcoming social groups. Barn Swallows, on the other hand, have been recorded engaged in cooperative breeding. A behavior in which adult birds, related or not, assist in the caring of the young. At John Heinz, one can walk over to the big boardwalk to watch these avian fighter jets dart low over the water, snagging their insect prey on the wing. I have witnessed, on several occasions, multiple adults feeding the same lucky fledglings. A unique insight into the social lives of another animal. Not necessarily friendship, but a positive behavior that improves the survival chances of their most vulnerable members.

My time today with Compeer and CompeerCORPS reminds me of the importance of friendship. Along the big boardwalk at John Heinz, people of all sorts gather to appreciate the refuge’s wildlife. It’s a spot to connect with each other, to make new friends or meet with old ones. When out birding, all one needs to do to break the ice with a fellow birder is to ask, “Seeing anything?” You will get an answer and then some. Perhaps, if you spend enough time chatting, you will share with them the one that got away. The brief glimpse of a bird, you just knew was a stunner, but it was so quick you couldn’t quite say for sure. Afterwards, you will have a new friend, and the next time you see each other, they will join you for the rest of the walk, hoping to perhaps find a rarity together.

It’s the tiny details that make your surroundings fuller. Nature has a foundational role in securing a positive headspace. I often think that the heightened anxiety folks feel comes from the modern disconnect from that world. Psychologist Jolanta Burke, of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University, points to the “awe of nature” and how it “can be transformational for human wellbeing.” Len and I spoke a bit about this subject while standing on the small boardwalk that led out from Warbler Woods into the Pipe Cut. I used Redstart in my example, pointing out the role its song has in attracting a mate. All that matters for that tiny bird at that particular moment is to ensure the continuation of its genes. A thousand-plus miles to reach the fragmented Tinicum Marsh, situated close to the Philadelphia International Airport. Decades prior, in 1953, the wetland faced destruction at the hands of Gulf Oil. Philly Birdwatcher Allston Jenkins organized a group of Conservationists to save space. The Gray Catbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and American Redstarts are unaware of that history. It might sound counterintuitive, but there’s more to birding than just the birds. There are people to meet, new places to go, and old places to stop and truly appreciate.

---

For More Information about Becoming a Compeer or CompeerCORPS Friend:

Compeer and CompeerCORPS: https://compeerfriends.org/

World Friendship Day/International Day of Friendship: July 30, 2025 https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-friendship-day-international-day-of-friendship/

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

References

Lund, N. (June 15, 2017). Birdist Rule #95: Learn the Red-Eyed Vireo’s Song and Level-Up Your Birding.  Audubon. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/birdist-rule-95-learn-red-eyed-vireos-song-and-level-your-birding

Lalwer, K. (Feb. 16, 2024). What does a Gray Catbird call mean? Birdful. https://www.birdful.org/what-does-a-gray-catbird-call-mean/

Burke, J. (Mat 17, 2024).  The Joy of Birdwatching: Research Shows it Can improve Mental Health and Foster a Sense of Wellbeing. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-joy-of-birdwatching-research-shows-it-can-improve-mental-health-and-foster-a-sense-of-wellbeing-229139

---

---

Bird Photos by Rob Karchnyak