Nature Watch
Linda Soller | Oct 13, 2025
Fall is a big deal for me. There are important birthdays, and cherished memories. As a child we did not initially have air conditioning in our home so despite my allergies I slept with the window open. Once the nights are cool, I find myself doing the same thing. Last week I was able to do just that. The wonder of an open window, despite the drawback of allergies, is the sounds you hear. There is a whole community of life bustling around during the night.
In the pre-dawn hours, some of those citizens are going to bed and others are waking up. The Barred Owl, whose territory is pretty big, sounds out to all to hear that he is in his realm. Sometimes he is close by, other times not, but always heard. Pre-dawn turns to sunrise and the Red Shoulder Hawk squawks as he circles above our trees. The crows respond with their taunts and warnings, but the last commanding voice is always the hawk. The red fox cries out as she makes her way back to her den. She has built one in our side yard this season! Around my deck the Cardinals and Chickadees begin chirping to remind me that I need to bring out the feeder for the day.
There is so much to appreciate about nature. It is amazing the way creatures, even small ones like Hummingbirds, know how to survive. I wish I’d realized when the Hummingbirds were going to head south so I could have said goodbye. The squirrels know to hide tons of nuts away because they are sure to forget where they put many of them. We humans often strive to have more than we need. It’s never as much as we want. God shows us just how He provides by the way He takes care of nature. I think He also watches to see how we participate in that job. We have been given sovereignty over nature. We are to protect it and keep watch over it, not exploit it. God has given us the tools we need for the job, but we must provide the energy and attention to nature that it deserves, as God’s creation.
Be strong in the Lord and be kind.
Linda
