When was the last time you really noticed nature?

When was the last time you really noticed nature? I mean, really noticed it when you stepped out of the continuous movie reel of life long enough to watch trees sway in the wind, hear birds singing, or feel the warmth of the sun on your skin?

Our senses are part of what makes life so rich. They invite us out of our thoughts, worries, and endless to-do lists and bring us back to what is happening right here, right now.

And nature gives us countless opportunities to practice being present.

When we slow down and engage our senses, our attention can gently shift toward what researchers call “soft fascination” the effortless attention that arises when we watch clouds drift across the sky, leaves dance in the breeze, or sunlight shimmer on water.

Unlike the focused attention we use to work through a problem, complete a task, or stare at a screen, soft fascination asks very little of us. It gives our minds a chance to rest and replenish, which can reduce mental fatigue and support renewed focus, reflection, and creativity.

These experiences may seem simple, but perhaps that is part of their beauty. For a moment, nature gives us a gift: we no longer rush toward what comes next or replay what has already happened. We are simply here, seeing, listening, touching, smelling, and feeling.

And perhaps the more we practice noticing the living world around us, the more we begin to notice our own lives, too.

World Elephant Day 2026

If you have ever seen an elephant in person, you know they take up space—and I don’t mean just physically.

They don’t apologize for being big. They are incredibly intelligent and sentient, form deep bonds with their families, grieve their losses, care for one another, and move through the world fully as elephants.

In other words, they show up as their authentic selves.

Imagine what your life might look like if you did the same. If you stopped shrinking yourself or trying to become who you think others want you to be. What might happen if you showed up as your truest self?

Elephants remind us there is power in being exactly who we are.

And there is an even deeper lesson.

When elephants are free to simply be elephants, they don’t just enrich their own families and communities—they help sustain the living world around them.

As they travel across vast landscapes, elephants disperse seeds, create pathways, shape vegetation, and support countless other species. Their presence helps maintain the health and biodiversity of entire ecosystems.

They don’t set out to become “ecosystem engineers.” They simply live as elephants—and the world is better because they are in it.

Maybe there is something beautiful for us to remember in that, too: when we are fully ourselves, we each have something unique to contribute to the larger web of life.

This World Elephant Day, let elephants remind us not only of the importance of protecting this extraordinary species, but of the value of allowing all beings to live, belong, and fulfill their unique role on Earth.

Yet elephants continue to face habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and trophy hunting. Admiring them is not enough. We must also stand up for their right to exist, remain with their families, and live freely in the landscapes they call home.

Please turn your love for elephants into action by signing and sharing the petition below calling for an end to the trophy hunting of endangered and threatened species:

https://c.org/8NXD8mCCYk

You can also amplify your voice by making a quick phone call or sending an email to your Representative directly. A few minutes of your time can make an enormous difference for species who have no voice and no choice.  Find your Representative here. 

The world is better because elephants are in it. Let’s make sure they remain part of it.

When Nature Has A Seat At The Table

For the first time, the Rights of Nature have entered the UK parliamentary process. This marks a landmark moment, recognizing that Nature possesses inherent rights.

And perhaps the better question is: why wouldn't Nature have rights?

Without Nature, there is no human race—nor the countless other beings that call Earth home. We do not exist independently of Nature. We are Nature.

We were never separate from the living world. We are in biological conversation with it every moment of our lives. We breathe the oxygen produced by forests, plants, and the ocean. We drink the water carried by rivers. We depend on the largest species on Earth and on the smallest organisms we rarely notice. Like cells within a body, we are each part of a larger living system.

Yet somewhere along the way, we stopped seeing Nature as our community and began treating it as a commodity—something to exploit, extract from, and monetize.

As we continue to ignore our interconnection with the living world, imbalance has followed. Our modern way of life has driven a wedge between humans and Nature while undermining the deep relationships that have always sustained us.

The Rights of Nature offer a different way forward. They invite us to recognize that Nature is not merely property or a collection of resources, but a living community worthy of respect, protection, and representation.

It is time for Nature to have a seat at the table—not because it serves us, but because we have always been part of the same living community.

What would change if our laws recognized that Nature has rights—not because it belongs to us, but because we belong with it?

You can read more about the Nature’s Rights bill here.

Chance Encounter With A Baby Hummingbird

My husband and I were taking a stroll through our neighborhood when I nearly stepped on a baby hummingbird sitting on the sidewalk.

It was tiny—about the size of a walnut—with muted gray, yellow, and black feathers that nearly blended into the concrete.

The baby cried, and I immediately went into Momma Bear mode.

I tried to pick it up, but its tiny feet were stuck to the concrete. I gently pried them loose, wondering how long the baby had been sitting there. It was near a parked car, and my heart dropped thinking about what could have happened.

As I picked the baby up, it opened its mouth as if it were ready for me to feed it.

Ugh. Finding an animal who needs help is stressful enough—but a baby?

For the next half hour, my husband and I searched the nearby trees and shrubs for a nest or any sign of the baby’s mother.

I have a built-in hummingbird radar. I know their chirps. I can hear the flutter of their wings.

But there was no sign of Momma and no nest to be found.

I was hellbent on finding the care this little one needed to grow stronger and eventually return to the wild.

I pulled out my phone and opened the Animal Help Now app to find a local wildlife rehabilitator. Thankfully, several rehabbers were available to guide me.

I eventually found someone nearby who agreed to care for the baby overnight and bring it to a wildlife center the following day.

The next day, I called to check on the baby and received wonderful news: the little hummingbird had been fed and was healthy!

The plan was to care for the baby until it was strong and independent enough to return to the wild.

What began as a stressful walk ended with an incredible sense of relief and gratitude—for the wildlife rehabilitators who answered my calls and dedicate their lives to helping wild animals, and for the fact that this tiny hummingbird now has a second chance to return home.

If you ever come across wildlife that appears injured, sick, or orphaned, I highly recommend downloading the Animal Help Now app. It can connect you with nearby wildlife rehabilitators and organizations that can help throughout the United States. You can find it here.

Sometimes helping wildlife begins with simply knowing who to call.

When a hummingbird chose my deck.

Yesterday, I noticed a hummingbird hanging out on my deck instead of visiting the feeder. I found it peculiar.

Then I noticed him sitting on the feeder perch for an extended period of time. I walked up to the feeder and started talking to him. I asked him if he was okay. I got the feeling he wasn't.

To my surprise, he let me touch him, and then he flew away.

I had a sinking feeling. If he was allowing me to get that close, something wasn't right.

Throughout the rest of the day, whenever he came to the feeder, I would go outside and talk to him.

In the evenings, I bring my hummingbird feeders inside because a raccoon likes to drink the sugar water. As I went outside to bring the feeders in, the hummingbird appeared and perched on the feeder. He didn't move.

I stayed out there with him for about twenty minutes until I heard the raccoon raiding another bird feeder nearby. I knew the raccoon would eventually make her way onto the deck and try to drink from the hummingbird feeder.

I gently asked the little hummie if he would come onto my finger, but he wouldn't move.

So I ran inside, grabbed a box and a net, carefully removed the feeder he was perched on, and slowly placed him into the box. I covered it with the net and brought him inside.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have a hummingbird sleepover.

I slept on the couch beside him and prayed he would make it through the night.

In the middle of the night, I heard the quietest sound come from the box.

My heart sank.

I knew he had passed.

I never would have imagined I would bear witness to a hummingbird passing away or be part of such an intimate experience. 💔

I don't know why this hummingbird chose my deck.

I don't know what happened to him.

But I am grateful our paths crossed.

For one brief night, I had the privilege of caring for a wild being at the end of his life.

Nature gives to us every day—the air we breathe, the water we drink, the beauty that inspires us, and the countless relationships that make life possible.

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can offer in return is our care.

Not because nature belongs to us, but because we belong to nature. 💚

Celebrating endangered species around the world.

Wildlife do far more than simply exist alongside us—they help sustain life on Earth itself. Some species play such vital roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems that they are known as keystone species.

And many of them are endangered:
Elephants. Whales. Wolves.

Elephants are known as the gardeners of the forest.
As they move through their habitats, they disperse seeds and help regenerate forests—ecosystems that store carbon, support biodiversity, and contribute to the air we breathe.

Whales help fertilize the ocean.
When they rise to the surface, they cycle nutrients that feed microscopic plant life responsible for producing nearly half the oxygen we breathe.

Which means every second breath you take may be connected to a whale.

And wolves?

When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1996, entire ecosystems began to recover.
Elk changed their grazing patterns.
Vegetation returned.
Beavers came back.
Wetlands stabilized.
Bird populations increased.
Even the rivers changed shape.

For millions of years, wildlife have helped shape, regulate, and stabilize the living world around us.

This is how deeply interconnected life truly is.
Every species plays a role, and when even one piece is removed, the entire system begins to shift—often in ways we cannot immediately see.

Humans are not separate from nature.
We are one part of a vast living system shared with all life on Earth.

Protecting endangered species is not just about protecting wildlife—
it is about protecting the balance, relationships, and living systems that sustain us all.

Earth Day 2026

Happy Earth Day 2026!

Before I became a voice for nature and animals, I was a physical therapist for many years.
And what I learned as a physical therapist is this:

• The body is interconnected.
• If someone came to see me with neck pain, I didn’t just treat the neck. Sometimes the issue started in the pelvis.
• When one part of the body is out of balance, the whole system compensates.
• The body doesn’t function in isolated parts—it functions as a system.

When I stepped into this work, I realized—
Nature works the same way.

• Forests affect the air we breathe.
• Oceans affect climate.
• Wildlife shapes landscapes and supports plant life.
• Insects affect our food.
• Nature functions as an interconnected system, just like our bodies.

And here’s the deeper truth:

• We are not separate from that system.
• We breathe what forests create.
• We drink what rivers carry.
• We depend on the largest species and the smallest species we rarely notice.

Just like cells in a body, we are part of the larger picture within nature.

And when we ignore that interconnection—imbalance follows.

Deep down, we know we depend on nature.
And yet we live our lives as if we were separate from it.

We are not just observers of nature. We are in biological conversation with it all the time, because nature is what keeps us thriving.

International Forest Day

I was thinking about what to share for International Forest Day (March 21st) — and instead of repeating what we already know about how much forests do for us and how quickly we’re losing them, I wanted to offer a different perspective: ways to celebrate forests around the world.

Have you heard of forest bathing? It’s a practice that invites us into a deep connection with nature. We spend nearly 90% of our lives indoors, losing touch with the natural world — but stepping outside reconnects us to something bigger, something we’ve always been a part of.

Nature fosters connection — to the land, the trees, the air, and the wildlife. But it also reconnects us to ourselves. Time in nature supports our emotional and physical well-being: it can boost immunity, improve mental clarity, lower stress, and even reduce blood pressure. Our bodies respond to natural light, fresh air, the movement of wind, and the sound of birds — all the subtle ways nature restores what modern life depletes.

Here’s the deeper truth:
We are not separate from this system.
We breathe what forests create.
We drink what rivers carry.
We depend on countless species, both large and small, that we often overlook.
We are not just observers — we are in constant biological conversation with nature.

Nature is our life-support.
When we step outside, we’re not just experiencing nature — we’re restoring ourselves within it. 🌿

To learn more about forest bathing and to find a forest bathing guide near you, visit The Association for Nature and Forest Therapy.

World Wildlife Day 2026 - Let's keep our endangered wildlife protected.

Today is World Wildlife Day.

I want to share three keystone species—animals with an extraordinary role in keeping ecosystems balanced—and why they matter to all of us:

Elephants.
Bears.
Wolves.

These ancient species have lived on Earth for millions of years—long before cities, roads, or development.

Elephants have walked this planet for approximately 60 million years.
Bears have been here for about 55 million years.
Wolves for roughly 4–5 million years.

Each is part of nature’s long story.

Elephants are known as the gardeners of the forest. As they move across landscapes, they disperse seeds, open clearings, and create space for forests to regenerate. Entire ecosystems grow because elephants walk.

Bears shape the land in similar ways. As they forage, they spread seeds and nutrients across vast areas, strengthening forests and supporting biodiversity. Their presence increases resilience within the ecosystems they inhabit.

And wolves?

When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1996, something extraordinary happened.

Elk changed their grazing patterns.
Vegetation recovered.
Beavers returned.
Wetlands stabilized.
Bird populations increased.
Even river systems shifted.

That is the power of a keystone species.

For millions of years, these animals have shaped the natural world. Life is deeply interconnected. Remove one piece, and the system changes.

Today, both the grizzly bear and gray wolf face renewed threats to their protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act exists to:
• Prevent extinction
• Support species recovery
• Safeguard the ecosystems wildlife depend on

And it works. More than 99% of species listed under it have avoided extinction.

When we protect wildlife, we protect the living systems that sustain us.

Deep down, we know we depend on nature. Yet we often live as if we are separate from it.

Nature is not optional. It has cared for us—quietly and consistently.

The question is no longer whether nature matters.
The question is whether we will remember that we belong to it.

Wildlife is not separate from us. They are a part of the intricate web of life that sustains us.

Protecting wildlife is protecting ourselves.

Please take a moment to call your federal legislators and ask them to protect grizzly bears and wolves by keeping them under the Endangered Species Act. You can find your representatives at usa.gov/elected-officials.

You can also sign the petition created by Wild For Change to protect endangered species:

https://c.org/SLDdZPHCx8

Choose Love

Since I was a child, I always admired Martin Luther King, Jr. and seen him as a role model.   His unwavering dedication to addressing disparities through nonviolence and to treating all beings on this planet with equality and compassion resonated with me.  His message embodies a universal love that transcends time. 

His acknowledgment that all beings possess an inherent right to exist on this earth, without anyone else deciding how they should live, or whether they may live or die, was forward-thinking for his era and remains relevant today, more than 50 years later. 

Every being enters this world with a unique gift, and when that soul departs, no one else can replicate its distinct signature, making each life so unique and special.  This holds true for humans as much as it does for any other creature.

Let freedom ring. 

Choose Love.

Image courtesy of www.newsroom.unl.edu

Our Subconscious Mind

The subconscious mind is fully developed at birth, and because it has no filter, it believes everything from what society and our families tell us.  It is where our beliefs live, and it runs 95% of our lives. 

Since our beliefs run our lives without our conscious awareness, what if we had been taught as children that all animals have equal value? We have been taught to love our pets, and at the same time, we have been taught that farm animals are servant animals, providing us and our pets with food as well as materials such as clothing, shoes, furniture, and car interiors.  But for someone who is Hindu, cows are viewed as sacred.  In some countries, dogs and cats are used for human consumption.  No matter where we were raised, our views of animals are rooted in a belief system deeply ingrained in our subconscious. 

If you were to observe an elephant caring for and protecting her baby, you would know at your core how much that elephant loves her baby.  What if you observed a cow caring for and protecting her baby? Is the cow’s love for her baby any different from the elephant’s? What if we were taught as children that all animals are created equal, that animals experience feelings of love and fear just as we do, and that they form bonds and have families like us?  From this place, we would understand that all beings have the capacity to suffer and thrive.  We see the cow’s life is no less indispensable than the elephant’s or our pets. 

Our subconscious mind is powerful.  Yet cultivating awareness offers us a way to view life from a different vantage point and to see the richness of all life on Earth. 

Image courtesy of www.artofit.com

Have you ever wondered what life is like for a tree? While they provide us with oxygen, shade, and rainfall, absorb pollution and carbon dioxide, and filter our water, trees also have lives of their own.

I just finished reading The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Mr. Wohlleben takes you on a journey into the secret world of trees. He explains that they are social beings who communicate, feel, care for their young, and have rich inner worlds. It is a fascinating read that not only deepened and expanded my understanding of trees as social creatures but also revealed that they share qualities with us.

 If you are a lover of trees and have always been fascinated by them, you will love this book.  It will give you an in-depth look at their lives that have been kept secret for so long. 

Did you know there are two ways coffee is grown? There is sun-grown coffee and shade-grown coffee, and there is a big difference between the two. 

Shade-grown coffee mimics the way wild coffee grows, under the shade of trees.  Growing coffee this way has so many benefits for the environment.  With coffee growing under a variety of trees, biodiversity increases.  Biodiversity helps interconnect the various functions of an ecosystem, resulting in a healthier ecosystem.  With the combination of trees and coffee growing together, the soil is replenished and becomes enriched with a variety of microbes that cycle nutrients back to the plants.  Growing trees and coffee together also improves resistance to pests and diseases, which reduces the need for fertilizers, and more trees also mean more habitat for birds that become predators for coffee pests. 

Sun-grown coffee was introduced in the 1970s to increase coffee production. While sun-grown coffee creates higher yields and brings more profit, it adversely affects nature. According to Dig Coffee, sun-grown coffee has led to the clearing of 2.5 million acres of forest in Central America. Losing these forests means losing homes for wildlife, reducing carbon storage, water filtration, providing us with less oxygen, and the cooling benefits of shade. Because sun-grown coffee lacks trees to help resist pests, it requires more pesticides. As a monoculture, sun-grown coffee also needs more fertilizers to enrich the soil. However, rain often washes away these fertilizers, which contain nitrogen and phosphate, causing chemicals to end up in rivers and lakes—leading to algae blooms that deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life. 

You can find shade-grown coffee in the coffee aisle.  I found my local grocery store carries shade-grown coffee brands.  One of the brands I really like is Papa Nicholas, and it is oh so good! 

I also learned that Starbucks is committed to its goal of using only shade-grown coffee.  In 2021, Starbucks reported that 99% of its coffee is shade-grown.  It will be interesting to visit some of my local coffee shops and inquire if their coffee is shade-grown. 

Below are links for buying shade-grown coffee online:  

www.dlgcoffee.org/shop

www.gocoffeego.com

www.shoparborday.org

https://coffeevogue.com/10-best-shade-grown-coffee-brands-for-eco-conscious-consumers/

Reference:

Chudnovsky, Abby.  Sun-Grown vs. Shade-Grown Coffee: How It Impacts the Environment and the Farmers.  DeLaGente. https://www.dlgcoffee.org/coffee-news/sun-grown-vs-shade-grown-coffee-how-it-impacts-the-environment-and-the-farmers. www.digcoffee.org

Photo courtesy of khthellman.blogspot.com

The Value of Trees

The Redwood National and State Parks are some of the most magical places I have ever visited. The peace and tranquility I experienced there were indescribable. After each hike, I felt like I was floating to our car. However, I would get a dose of reality when driving along Highway 101; we encountered logging trucks nearly every 10 minutes. My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces as I watched these trucks roll by one after another.  According to Our World in Data, the world loses approximately six million hectares of forest each year, which confirms the sinking feeling I felt watching the trucks drive by with timber.   

One of the photos shows the barren side of the mountains where logging has taken place.   

I know we rely heavily on trees for construction, wood floors, furniture, toilet paper, and paper towels.

However, we also rely heavily on trees for oxygen, shade, cooling the planet, contributing to rainfall, providing moisture for soil, storing carbon dioxide, filtering our water, and helping to prevent flooding. 

Next time you go to purchase paper towels or toilet paper, opt for brands that offer recycled paper.  A lot of our paper towels and toilet paper come from virgin forests where trees are felled solely for this purpose. 

When purchasing paper, look for recycled paper options.  

If you are shopping for furniture, check for the Forest Stewardship Council logo, which serves to certify that the wood was harvested from forests that are responsibly managed. 

We need trees for a myriad of reasons, so let’s be conscious consumers of all wood and paper products. 

The elephant totem symbolizes resilience in the face of adversity, loyalty, wisdom, patience, and strong family bonds. An elephant matriarch guides her herd to water, food, and safety. She protects her herd and tends to them when they are unwell. The matriarch teaches her family about life and how to live it. These qualities are common to all living beings. They are traits that you and I share with our own family and friends.

We are quite similar to elephants, but because we have different skin and languages, we often struggle to recognize these similarities. This prevents us from truly connecting. However, if we began to see the similarities between ourselves and other beings, like elephants, we could grow in awareness and realize they deserve a place in this world just as much as we do. That is why I stand up for the voiceless. I see their capacity for love and pain, and I recognize our shared traits. Yet, elephants need many more of us to create momentum and foster positive change. 

Thank you in advance for speaking out for elephants on World Elephant Day and signing this petition to ban trophy hunting of elephants and other endangered and threatened species.

My heartfelt thanks to the following organizations helping to give elephants support, protection, a voice, and the love they need and deserve:

Amboseli Trust for Elephants

Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation

Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

Elephants Without Borders

Global Sanctuary for Elephants

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary

Wildlife SOS

Today is International Tiger Day!  It was established in 2010 to raise awareness about tigers, following the discovery that 97% of the wild tiger population had vanished.  Approximately 3,000 tigers are found in the wild and their numbers continue to diminish due to habitat loss from human encroachment, loss of their prey base, and poaching.  The tiger is the only big cat species listed as endangered on the IUCN’s redlist. 

I usually post about wildlife to raise awareness of their plight because many species are highly vulnerable right now. This might feel overwhelming to read. I understand. Completely. However, I take the time to write these posts because I believe all beings, not just humans, have a right and a purpose for being here. Wildlife deserves a place in this world.  Unfortunately, the species we share this planet with cannot protect themselves from the many threats we've imposed on them. Yet, we are the ones who can make their lives better and become their stewards. 

I hope you let what I just said sink in.  Let your heart open and even feel sad for what is happening to the wildlife.  Then, when you have felt the sadness, go and support the species that call to you.  Whether you donate to an organization, support legislation to protect wildlife, share posts, or tell friends and family, it all counts because the love you put out to the world travels, and when it does, more wildlife can thrive. 

Listed below are organizations dedicated to helping tigers in the wild:

International Fund for Animal Welfare

TRAFFIC

Panthera’s Cats

Wildlife Conservation Society

References:

1. “International Tiger Day – July 29th, 2025”.  www.nationaltoday.com.  https://nationaltoday.com/international-tiger-day/

2. IUCN Redlist - Tiger.  www.IUCNredlist.org. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15955/214862019#threats

July 14th was Shark Awareness Day and I want to celebrate these ancient keystone species!

Sharks have existed for millions of years.  They are even older than trees.  Sharks emerged around 450,000 million years ago, whereas trees emerged approximately 350 million years ago.  Human existence pales in comparison to sharks, as modern humans appeared about 300,000 years ago. 

Throughout their existence, sharks have played a crucial role in supporting and maintaining the ecosystem in which they live.  Sharks are apex predators, which means they prey on sick and weak fish to maintain a healthy overall marine life population.  Without them, the food chain and the health of the ocean are thrown off balance. 

Sharks also help to mitigate climate change.  By consuming dead matter on the ocean floor, sharks play a vital role in maintaining the ocean's carbon cycle.  Sharks and other large marine life, such as whales, sequester large amounts of carbon.  But when sharks and other large marine life are hunted, this disrupts the ocean’s carbon cycle.

However, despite their importance to the ocean ecosystem and the health of the planet, nearly 77% of shark species are threatened with extinction due to climate change, overfishing, poaching, and habitat loss.  According to Marine Megafauna Foundation, each year, approximately 1.5 million tons of sharks are caught by humans and often they are caught in fishing nets meant to catch fish like tuna.  If sharks are caught in fishing nets, they usually cannot survive long as they need to swim continously to get oxygen. 

According to National Geographic, if the world increased its marine protected areas by just 3%, it could save 99 of the most imperiled shark species, which help to keep the ocean ecosystem in balance. 

To take direct action to protect sharks, do not buy or eat products containing shark and avoid eating tuna or only buy sustainably caught tuna, since sharks can often become bycatch of fishing nets. 

Learn more about how to help sharks visit Shark Guardian, Save Our Seas, and Shark Stewards.

References:

1. Hoseck, Nicky.  2022, April 21st. “Are Sharks Older than Trees?”  Dutch Shark Society.  https://www.dutchsharksociety.org/are-sharks-older-than-trees/.  www.dutchsharksociety. 

2. University of Cambridge. 2025, March 18th.  “Genetic study reveals hidden chapter in human evolution.”  https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/genetic-study-reveals-hidden-chapter-in-human-evolution.  www.cam.ac.uk. 

3. McKeever, Amy.  2021, July 27th.  “The surprising ways sharks keep the ocean healthy.”  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/surprising-ways-sharks-keep-the-ocean-healthy?loggedin=true.  www.nationalgeographic.com

4. Shark Stewards.  www.sharkstewards.org

5. Marine Megafauna Foundation.  “Human Threats to Sharks and Rays.”  https://marinemegafauna.org/human-threats-sharks-rays.  www.marinemegafauna.org

6.  Gibbens, Sarah.  2019, September 25th.  “Less Than 3% of the Ocean is ‘Highly Protected’.”  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/paper-parks-undermine-marine-protected-areas.  www.nationalgeographic.com

According to Cornell Lab, scientists have documented the loss of 3 billion breeding birds in North America since 1974. 

With a bit of help from us, bird populations can recover. 

Here are 7 simple actions to help birds:

1. Make windows safer day and night. 

It’s estimated up to 1 billion birds die each year from colliding into windows.  Birds mistake the glare from windows as habitat or when frightened crash into windows.  To break up reflection, install screens, film, or place window decals on your windows.  You can find the decals just about anywhere.  I found a good deal on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1jbeM6K

2. Keep cats indoors.

Cats are estimated to kill more than 2.4 billion birds annually across the U.S. and Canada.  Aside from habitat loss, this is the #1 human-related reason for the loss of birds.  Keep cats indoors or create an outdoor “catio” for them.   

3. Reduce lawn, plant native plants.

Birds have fewer places to rest safely during migration and to nest their young. From 1982-1997, more than 10 million acres of land was converted to lawns. This means fewer trees and bushes are used by birds as shelter. Planting native plants provides shelter and nesting areas for birds and also gives birds berries and seeds to sustain them.    

4. Avoid pesticides!

More than 1 billion pounds of insecticides are applied in the U.S. each year.  The more commonly used insecticides, neonicotinoids are lethal to birds and the insects birds consume.  Consider purchasing organic foods for nearly 70% of produce sold in the U.S. contains pesticides.  Reduce the use of pesticides around your home and garden. 

5. Drink coffee that’s good for birds. 

¾ of the world’s coffee farms grow coffee plants in the sun, destroying forests, birds, and other wildlife need for food and shelter.  Enjoy shade-grown coffee that is bird-friendly and doesn’t destroy their habitat. 

Here is where you can find bird-friendly coffee:

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/where-buy-bird-friendly-coffee

6. Help protect our planet from plastic. 

It’s estimated 4,900 million metric tons of plastic are sitting in landfills and polluting our oceans, and harming wildlife like seabirds, turtles, and whales that mistake plastic for food.  Plastic takes 400 years to degrade and more than 91% of plastic is not recycled.  Avoid single-use plastic and recycle plastic. 

7. Watch birds, share what you see.

It is an immense challenge to track 10,000 species of birds and scientists need our help.  Join a project such as eBird, Project FeederWatch, Christmas Bird Count, Breeding Bird Survey, or the International Shorebird Survey to record your bird observations. Your contributions will provide valuable information to show where birds are thriving—and where they need our help.

Reference:

1. Cornell Lab.  “Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds.” www.birds.cornell.edu.  https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/seven-simple-actions-to-help-birds/

I was driving home last week when I noticed a McDonald’s half-eaten burger on the side of the road.  Unfortunately, I see this often and picked it up because tossing an innocent being’s life onto the side of the road and risking the life of another innocent animal trying to eat it and getting struck by a car is just not how I want to show up in this world. 

But let’s look deeper into what that half-eaten burger means on a bigger scale. 

First, about 900,000 cows are killed every day for meat.  Please read that line again and let it sink in.  Now, for that one cow’s remains to end up on the side of the road demonstrates a complete disconnect from the life around us.  Not only are cows sentient beings, but the way they are raised for meat production is cruel and contributes to our diminishing resources.  According to tastingtable it takes approximately 2000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.  As climate change is already affecting us, cattle are a top source of methane gas being released into the atmosphere, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the Earth. 

Now let’s look at food waste. According to One5c, as much as 40% of food in the U.S. is thrown away each day! Our landfills are nearly filled to capacity, and the amount of food going to landfills is a big problem. According to the NRDC, a head of lettuce can take up to ten years to decompose!  When food waste breaks down in a landfill, it gets trapped between other garbage with little exposure to oxygen. That, in turn, also creates methane gas, which is also released into the atmosphere. 

As food breaks down in a landfill, it combines with inorganic compounds like electronics, batteries, and paints, creating “liquid garbage” known as leachate. Leachate is a contaminant that enters our soils and water sources, putting our drinking water at risk. It can also enter lakes and rivers via water runoff or groundwater that discharges into them.

That half-eaten burger is a reminder of something much bigger than just trash on the side of the road; it highlights our need for empathy towards life, our environment, and the future we all share. 

Resources:

1. Redden, Claire.  2022, April 13th.  “The Surprising Amount of Water it Takes to Produce One Pound of Beef.”  www.tastingtable.com.  https://www.tastingtable.com/830861/the-surprising-amount-of-water-it-takes-to-produce-a-pound-of-beef/

 2. Erin Jones, Ariane Datil, Alanna Delfino.  2021, December 4th.  “Yes, cattle are the top source of methane emissions in the US.”  www.verifythis.com  https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/environment-verify/cattle-cows-the-top-source-of-methane-emissions-in-united-states/536-8d5bf326-6955-4a9c-8ea5-761d73ba464c

3. Hana Seo.  2024, March 14th.  “Food Waste in Landfills: What You Need to Know.” www.one5c.com.  https://one5c.com/food-waste-landfills-136944213/

4. BiologyInsights Team.  2025, June 15th.  “Landfill Leachate: What It Is and Why It Matters.”  www.biologyinsights.com https://biologyinsights.com/landfill-leachate-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/

There are approximately 200 million working animals worldwide, ranging from dogs to donkeys, mules, camels, and horses.  Their silent efforts are indispensable, and their tireless work should be recognized.  Working animals are vital in vulnerable communities.  One working animal can support an extended family of up to 30 members. 

Working Animals Day was created in 2016 by the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) to raise awareness of the plight of working animals and to inspire others to treat working animals with respect, provide access to veterinary care, improve welfare standards and educate future generations to treat animals with kindness and compassion.  SPANA’s work helps improve working animals’ lives while supporting the community. 

I remember hiking to Machu Picchu and passing by many families with donkeys carrying heavy loads that looked like potato sacks on their backs, traversing on very steep inclines and rocky terrain.  I imagined how tired their bodies must have felt going for miles through the Andes expanse.  Life is not easy for working animals.  Some animals are not able to receive veterinary care.  Some animals never experience retirement.  But all working animals have the ability to feel and know if they are treated well or not. 

To learn more how to help working animals worldwide, visit www.SPANA.org.

Photo courtesy of SPANA