Among Birds and Trees—Finding Presence in Nature

For many of my life, I didn’t discover timber. Positive, I noticed them, however nothing registered. My acutely aware mind didn’t be aware of something about them. I used to be so preoccupied with the remainder of life that timber have been basically invisible. The identical was true of birds. They have been throughout, but I don’t recall ever actually seeing birds rising up. As I’ve began to deliberately search for birds during the last yr, I discover myself questioning what number of instances I had seen a California Towhee or Northern Mockingbird as a baby. A whole bunch? Possibly. However after I began birding final yr, I might have sworn that was the primary time I had seen both one.  

As soon as I began noticing timber, I started studying about them. I’ve a whole lot of oaks the place I stay within the Sierra Foothills, so I naturally started some analysis into the right way to establish various kinds of oaks. As I checked out a tree, I’d attempt to resolve whether or not it was Valley, Blue, Black, Dwell, and many others. I started to note their leaves and bark. I noticed the cavities Acorn Woodpeckers would make, and the timber designated for acorn storage.  I witnessed the Oak Titmouse hopping by the branches, by no means staying in the identical place for lengthy, and a White-breasted Nuthatch sticking to the bark like a gecko.   

Lots of my work friends can take a look at a tree and so they know the Latin title, life stage, well being, and age. They see the identical Oak Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch but in addition know their nesting conduct, eating regimen, and incubation interval. They’ll rattle off 100 information about seemingly any species on the panorama.   

Data is extraordinarily precious — from with the ability to establish a California Towhee to figuring out that Quercus lobata have a few of the largest xylem vessels of any North American oak. And but, I additionally surprise: Does figuring out extra a few tree equate to figuring out that tree extra? Do information discovered change time spent? Do educational levels change purposeful presence? As I spend extra day out within the fields and forests, listening and observing, I’ve discovered that schooling mixed with presence creates a wonderful lens to actually know the world.  

So, what does presence seem like in nature? Nothing. It seems like nothing. It seems like no expectation, no judgement, no categorization, and no separation. It doesn’t isolate or rank. It doesn’t appraise or file. Presence is full immersion, acceptance, and attunement.  If this sounds onerous, that’s as a result of it’s. Solely you possibly can maintain your self accountable. It takes apply and endurance as we study to take a seat in stillness and vacancy. In uncommon glimpses, we are going to expertise all of it. Then perhaps in the future we will lastly commerce the thought of a tree for what it’s, proper there in entrance of us — uncooked, distinctive, current.    

The wonder is within the relentless acceptance of the second. Presence doesn’t exclude or decide. It’s not sure by title, cash, or mind. As an alternative, it grounds us all in solidarity with the world round us. How usually are you totally current? What number of instances have you ever seen a tree?