“In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we love only what we understand, and we understand only what we are taught.”
Bird Walk – Nature Walk
Last month, I was leading my monthly bird walk at Connemara Meadow Preserve in Plano for 17 individuals. Most of the people on the walk were my regular birders, but for 7 individuals, it was their first bird walk.
On my bird walks, I use that term loosely, because they are more like nature walks. Yes, I focus on birds, but in between looking for birds, you will learn the importance of edge habitats or why Honey Locusts (Gleditsia triacanthos) have wicked thorns.
On this particular walk, I enlightened my group with the importance of prairie restoration, which is ongoing at Connemara. I explained how Bob Mione, Connemara Meadow Preserve Manager, is slowly restoring the 72 acres preserve back to a tallgrass prairie, a thousand square feet at a time. After many failed attempts, Bob has found the magic formula for restoration.
Later in the walk, we talked about the relationship between the tallgrass prairie at Parkhill Prairie, and an endemic crawfish discovered on that prairie. Towards the end of the walk, we discussed the consequences of destroying a grassland habitat, and its effect on the riparian habitat of Rowlett Creek. In particular, a towering Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), teetering on the eroded banks of the creek, soon to meet the fate of many trees which have fallen into Rowlett Creek.
After the walk, a handful of people thanked me for teaching them so much about nature and how interconnective everything is. One gentleman talked to me for 30 minutes afterwards, stating he always cared about nature, but I opened his eyes to the damage we have done to the prairies, and he wants to do something about it. He said he would consider joining both Audubon and NPSOT!
Seeds of Understanding
After this walk, I started thinking, when we get frustrated when we lose a piece of habitat, or see a nursery sell non-native invasive plants, we must share in the blame. How can we expect anyone to share our level of passion for the native world when they see “Texas Vitex” is a great plant for pollinators?
They must understand what is native and why it is important before they develop the desire to conserve it. And it will take more than a handful of people to go before city and state planners, developers, or the nursery industry to change their mindset to conserve the native environment.
This is where we, as individuals, can start making a difference. Any opportunity you have to talk to someone about the importance of using native plants, do it. When I’m working in my yard and someone stops to ask a question about one of the plants or a butterfly or bee, I explain why I have this plant in my yard and what it does for the environment. You have to explain why “bugs” are important and they are not bad. Sit there with them and watch bees and wasp buzz around you and as long as you don’t swat or grab one, they will go about their business of pollenating, and they will not sting you.
I have gotten a dozen or so people in my neighborhood to plant natives in their yard. If they are successful and they get 10 more of their neighbors to plant native plants, we can have a grassroot movement growing. Then at a city council meeting, instead of two tree-hugging environmentalists protesting a develop, we could have 5,000 to 10,000 individuals who care about their community and how it is connected to nature, and make an impact on city and state planners, developers and the nursery industry. We must plant the seed of understanding nature.
Teaching is the Key
How do we reach people to teach them the benefits of natives? Encourage people you meet to attend a NPSOT, Audubon, or Master Naturalist meeting. Direct them to the NPSOT state website so they can find a meeting of their interest. If they are interested in landscaping their yard, NLCP classes are excellent resources for designing your landscape. If you are at a Monarch Waystation and people are looking at it, engage them in conversation about the benefits of the plants at the waystations. Remember, if we want people to conserve, we must teach them, so they understand.
