A Time For Reflection
By Pat Phillips
Within the last few weeks, we observed the passing of the summer solstice, a temporal turning point, marking our longest day and the beginning of the trend toward shorter periods of daylight. For centuries, solstices have been observed as both astronomical and cultural phenomena and marked with diverse rituals and celebrations. As such, they have provided an opportunity to pause, consider where we are, reflect upon where we have been, and look forward to how things might be in the future.
Birds too begin demonstrating a response to the decrease in day length, although it is initially a subtle and gradual change. Having successfully made the northern migration, found mates, and bred and raised young, they experience behavioral, biochemical, and structural changes. These prepare them for the next phase in the breeding-migration-breeding cycle. Adult birds exhibit a decline in singing and there is a slow diminishment in the dawn chorus. Their time for attracting mates or declaring territories is passing, and brain regions related to vocalization shrink. Many species begin the annual pre-migratory fall molt, shedding worn plumage for new feathers, often duller but designed for the challenges ahead. During the molt, some birds struggle to fly and are often quietly secretive, hiding from predators as the new feathers develop. As the season progresses, additional physiological and anatomical changes related to migration follow, and by now in July the earliest migrating shorebirds are on the move.
We birders rejoiced at the return of avian species in the annual spring waves of migrants coming to their summer homes or passing through our area. Their melodious songs and stunning plumage raised our spirits and made greeting each new day a pleasure. During late spring and summer, many of those birds became like friends, residing in nests near us. We watched them raising and feeding their offspring who, in turn, began their rudimentary attempts at flight and copying the songs of their parents. And now, as we look toward midsummer and beyond, we will bear witness to preparations for their departure.
Many of us are aware of the massive losses in bird populations and of the significant challenges that they face to survive. Federal statutory and regulatory protections for wildlife and their habitats in the United States have seen tremendous erosion over the past year and a half. However, it is vital that we support initiatives to “bend the curve” of population decline while maintaining an attitude of optimism. Ornithologist Scott Weidensaul addresses this challenge in his book, The Return of the Oystercatcher. He reminds us that we “cannot withdraw and cede the field to the destroyers, nor can we completely burn ourselves out with endless fury and grief…for each moment of justified rage, we must take a moment of calm to recharge.”
At this post-solstice time, we must take the opportunity to consider the future. Currently, a myriad of conservation-related organizations and some legislators at the local, state, and federal levels are working to counter many of the environmentally damaging actions and policies at play. Their perseverance and your support of their efforts are essential in ensuring that future generations will be able to experience the joy that birds bring us.