I attended the “Birds and the Bees” webinar as per the 2021 Macaulay BioBlitz. I found the experience quite enlightening. I appreciated the chance to meet, hear, and chat with some of the seasoned specialist about their fields. (I.e., Gutman Surya, an ecologist  at the Wildlife Conservation Society with his observations on avian creatures and mammals’ behaviors and biodiversity). His in-depth explanation of indigenous birds (both on Staten Island and around the world) and their patterns helped me take a closer look at our winged counterparts and their tendencies. I also thoroughly enjoyed listening to Sarah Kornbluth, a bee specialist who works with Rutgers University and the Museum of Natural History. She spoke passionately about her studies and work within the community, and how imperative bees are to our eco system. It really brings light to how fragile the balance is. I never considered bird watching or bee keeping being more than just hobbies, but upon further inspection, I understand that it is crucial to aid us in comprehensively keeping the balance of the world around us.

Listening to prior observations and being encouraged to make some of my own will most likely be the better part of my gained insight. The data collected from these specialist and aspiring spectators will be extremely imperative to our relationship with Earth. Take observing the behavior of bees for instance, if we thought they were another pest created to annoy us during our annual family picknick, you’d “bee” incorrect. They are one of the main contributors in our food production process, and are the primary source of cultivating honey, or liquid gold, a very precious good that can be used to ward off illnesses and create other remedies (it is also very good in tea). These fuzzy little specimens are earths mobile agriculturalist, preventing soil erosion and pollinating over 80% of the world’s crops. All of these creatures have a lot to say and do with the world around us, all we have to do is look up and observe (-and try our hardest not to disturb the natural process).