So I’ve been a bit slack in posting on this blog, or any blog. Work, work, work, plumbing problems and life in general have been to blame. But I promise myself I’ll make writing on this blog a weekly habit. *fingers crossed*
I Voted
Yes, early voting is underway in Georgia. Go make your voice heard. Early voting lasts until Oct. 30. Nov. 3 is Election Day, and soon all the silly, repetitive and some AI-infused ads will be gone from the TV, though not soon enough for anyone’s liking.
Oh, and they got rid of the traditional peach “I Voted” sticker. Instead, they have some mediocre stylized Gold Dome and state flag treatment, which feels … off. The vibe is bad. Bring back the peach!
Birds Georgia
I joined another club, this one bird- and environment-focused: Birds Georgia. It was great getting out of the house and meeting fellow bird enthusiasts at Manuel’s Tavern, which is apparently an Atlanta institution and was a pleasant place to spend a few hours among fellow birders.
The guest speaker, Director of Conservation Gabe Andrle, shared the organization’s in environmental remediation in coastal Georgia, including turning abandoned golf courses into habitat favorable for nesting birds.
I’m not personally familiar with Georgia’s coast like at all, but apparently it is the birdiest part of the state. Naturally, being a tourism magnet, that part of the state remains also a challenging area for balancing bird and human demands. Fragile nesting shorebirds face a range of challenges, including human interference, habitat degradation and owl predation. I found it eye-opening learning some of the efforts the organization is undertaking to improve the situation for nesting birds.
What’s I’m Reading
Relatedly, I’m reading Bird School by Adam Nicolson. I thought was the book for the October Early Bird Book Club, but it turned out to be wrong on the website. So I get to dive in at my leisure since the next book club meeting will be in January.
So far, I’m impressed by the interweaving of bird stories with literature, ecocriticism and a micro-focus on place. The gist of it: the author creates a bird house, a human dwelling on his English farm where he can interact with birds and learn more about them in this close-up manner. He has the benefit of owning that much property and the money to build such a habitat. So he comes to birding from a seat of privilege that us city dwellers of limited land, funds and time can only dream about. In other words, I’m jealous.
I’m perhaps a quarter of the way through this book. I’ll provide a more robust review upon finishing it!
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