Entering the Wild

Life usually moves at such a fast pace, but due to quarantine, each day seems to drag on. We trap ourselves in our house and ignore nature just outside our door. While some may not be fortunate enough to be in contact with nature, those who have that luxury need to take advantage of it. As the weather becomes warmer, stepping outside seems more enticing. I began surveying my property for somewhere to observe nature. Almost as if it was a pirate map, an “X” marked the spot, but rather than an “X,” it was moss-covered baseball. The first day I sat on a log, but in search of a more comfortable experience, I set up a hammock on the second day. While staring at the treetops, I could hear the songs of a variety of birds, yet I could not see any. I realized how much I had to learn about the different birds in my area. I ordered a book on the birds of Ohio in hopes of expanding my knowledge. My next step is to get audio of different bird songs to identify birds in my backyard. Another idea I had would be to build a birdhouse, so I could create a go-to spot for looking at birds. I will attempt to make a birdhouse that appeals explicitly to Blue Jays. First, I'm going to have to do some research on what attracts Blue Jays to a nesting spot. I have seen Blue Jays by my house, but the challenge will be to get them to nest in my birdhouse. However, for now, I will continue to stare up from the hammock. During my time of staring up at the trees and hearing the songs of the birds, I felt at peace. Being so relaxed led me to be lulled to sleep by the songs of the birds. After only a few minutes of sleep, I woke up to a harsh rain coming down. I tried to tough it out, but after a while, I was soaked and came in. My goal is to build a roof to cover the hammock from the rain. My dilemma is if I include the hammock with a roof, I lose the ability to look up at the trees. Therefore, if I were to design something to cover the hammock from rain, it would be removable to make sure it would only be up when it is raining. This coming week I will spend my time researching and with some luck building both the birdhouse and the removable roof.