Go Out and Touch Some Grass!
On Saturday, September 28th, we gathered in the parking lot of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Many residents of Philly and its surrounding suburbs consider it a treasured sanctuary. A chance for an urban dweller to, “go out and touch some grass.” There has been a fair amount of research that shows a correlation between time spent in nature and an overall reduction of stress. Birding happens to be the perfect activity to put that correlation to the test. It grants you the opportunity to step out of your head and immerse yourself in the moment. Director Olga Antonyuk, of Compeer and CompeerCORPS, wanted to put the research to the test. Through a former employee, Robert Yanuzzi, she was introduced to a pair of birding enthusiasts: Lenn Clupp a retired radio broadcaster, and Robert Karchnyak, member of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and guide for its Bird Philly initiative.
Much like classical music, birdsong can help support memory, increase attention span, and can help alleviate real-world stressors. Beyond the overall mental benefits, birding can be fun. You get the opportunity to learn all about endemic bird species. Birds are entertaining in their behaviors. For instance, there’s a ground-nesting bird called a Killdeer that utilizes a unique technique to protect its young from predators. It will feign a broken wing and scurry off in the opposite direction of its nest. Predators will often go for the easy meal so will chase the supposedly injured bird. Of course, the Killdeer is not injured and will fly off once it reaches an area far from its nest.
The morning was cloudy as the remnants of Hurricane Helene rolled through the region the previous day. The storm kept overnight migration sparse, but nonetheless, there were birds to be seen. Chimney Swifts and Northern Rough-winged Swallows greeted us in the parking lot– filling up on insects to ensure they had the much-needed energy required to survive their perilous journey south. Bird migration is one of the world’s greatest spectacles. To be a witness to it is a privilege many overlook. As we made our way through the refuge, we were treated to a thriving environment full of birds. Some notable species observed were a trio of Little Blue Herons, a Belted Kingfisher, a Northern Parula, two Black-and-white Warblers, and a vibrant Red-shoulder Hawk.
The event was hosted for veterans who are in recovery. We had a combination of veterans and families who participated in the event. Many of the attendees expressed their interest and enthusiasm in the subject material, learning a bit about each species and in general enjoying the outdoors. The weather might have been drab, but it did not damper anyone’s spirits. Hopefully, they will continue to engage in nature independently and attend future CompeerCORPS organized bird walks. It was a fine morning to close out the month of September.
This blog was written by guest author, Rob Karchnyak. “I became interested in birds at about the age of 10 when I observed a Northern Flicker in my uncle’s backyard. I bugged my mom to identify it so she went out and purchased an Audubon guide. From that point on I was hooked. In the past couple of years, I’ve become active within Philly’s rich birding community. I volunteer my time by leading bird walks at Franklin D. Roosevelt Park in South Philly, handling BirdPhilly’s Instagram, and engaging with other ecology-centered Philadelphia organizations on a variety of projects. I am a member of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and sit on the Conservation Committee. If I’m not out birding I’m hanging in my South Philly apartment with my wife, Nicole, and my cat, Wilder.”
Bird Photos by Lenn Clupp – “I first became interested in birding many years ago when my parents took the family to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on the border between Berks and Schuylkill Counties. The spark grew into a flame when I moved to central Pennsylvania and started seeing birds I never knew existed. I bought a field guide and started spending as much time as I could looking for birds. I’m now retired and living in Delaware County again, and I have a lot more time to pursue my favorite pastime.”
Blog Title Photo: Lesser Yellowlegs
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