Tanka Prose — Asian Short Form Poetry
Encounters with Nature
By Judith Deutsch
Today, more than ever, it is important that we show respect for nature and the world around us. Whether we share it with birds, reptiles, mammals, or micro-organisms, such as the Coronavirus, we need to understand and appreciate that we are not the only residents on earth.
I am thrilled that California has begun work on a migratory pathway for our native mountain lions to provide safe passage over heavily trafficked roadways, allowing for more genetic diversity.
In the 1970s, I worked at the J. Paul Getty Villa in Malibu, California, and during summers staff parked along the hillside to leave parking spaces for visitors. I came out one evening to find what I thought was a large dog sleeping on the hood of my burgundy Fiat. At 98 pounds and a height of 5 ‘3”, I moved to within 5 feet to tell him to “scat.” Imagine my surprise when he unfurled a long tail and turned a cat’s face to me! I spread my arms to make myself look larger (I learned this in Girl Scouts), made eye contact, backed up, wished him a lovely nap, and returned to my lab. An hour later, he was gone. The cats tend to come down looking for water, and he must have just eaten before taking his nap.
I also had a vegetarian coyote visit my organic garden in Mar Vista. He left the garden cats alone but dug up carrots and greens to eat. I suspect he was a pet dropped off in the mountains when he grew too large to keep. A barn owl now has a home in my neighbor’s yard, and a ring-tailed hawk visits us, regularly. Crows, ravens, hawks, and squirrels share the trees in the park where I walk. Each group has staked out its own real estate. We need to continue to share our space and accommodate wildlife to the best of our ability, using our heads when we meet them, whether unintentional or by design.
Bird Walk | by Linda Sheehan
Bird-Protective Reflective-Garden
INTERPRETING NATURE — Nature in the City
This issue’s Interpreting Nature column was created by Brian Young. Brian is a Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program alumnus. He recently returned from completing his degree at UC Santa Cruz to re-join the staff team at Los Angeles Audubon - we are very glad to have him back! Brian brings a wide range of interests and skill sets to his work as a restoration and education staff member, helping students make connections between science, art, and stewardship. Hopefully we can talk him into creating more nature comics for the Tanager in the future!
OUTDOOR EDUCATION —Cruising Up & Down the Coast, Checking-out the Spots That I Love Most
2020 has been a year that has seen much upending of the world and its citizens. But there is consistency to be found in the natural world, and for me, that is a great source of comfort. Nature does not know that a pandemic is raging around the world, and continues to go about its business, in all its wonder, every single day.
Time spent outdoors can be quite the antidote for the sagging spirit. Southern California abounds in locations that remind us of the beauty of our state, and that there is a larger whole to the world than the niche that is occupied by us humans. What follows is a list of some of my favorite spots to step back, experience the natural world and be inspired rather than discouraged. Each place listed is within a two-hour drive of downtown Los Angeles, with the exception of the final listing. Some are extremely local. And all should be a tonic to malaise!
BIRDS OF THE SEASON — December 2020
While much about the fall and early winter of 2020 was typical, much was not. The pandemic not only continued unabated but its intensity was on the rise. From a purely self-interested point of view, birding continued to be mostly unaffected. A truly ugly fire season thankfully exited with a whimper rather than a bang. Cooler temperatures finally arrived, but were accompanied by little precipitation.
