5 Reasons Why Taking the Same Walk Never Ceases to Surprise
#3: Understanding Your Surroundings
It was back in 1975 that ´Polderpark Cronesteyn´ became part of the municipality Leiden, my home. 20 years later, it is still a good place to walk the dog, go for a run, or simply get some fresh air. Although it allows for several different paths to explore, the area remains quite small ( ± 90 ha).
Every sunday, I take a walk in this same park, a hundred metres from my front door (I can see the the herons nests while lying in bed!). Not because I have a lack of options, but because it never gets boring. Here are my reasons:
#1: Getting to know the people
Despite being present on different times and days, I bump into the same people once a while. This can add something to my walk even without the need of interaction. I often find patterns in what they do and what time they are usually around. Concerning socializing —finding something in common is easy. The choice of spending our free time brought us to the same place. It is also easier to get in touch with strangers in the park than at your local shopping mall. Nature makes us approachable; saying hello becomes usual just because people density shrinks (although that might differ per culture, see this reddit thread). As a bird watcher, I always ask people with binoculars whether they have seen something interesting. But if, unlike me, you´re more of a dog lover, getting to know the common pet visitors and their owners could be fun too.
#2: Getting to know the animals
Animal´s behaviour can be quite predictable. Last month I noticed a family of long-tailed tits in the bushes. After taking some pictures I soon found out they were all blurry due to wrong camera settings. Luckily, I got a second chance some weeks after; and found them less than a 100 metres from that same spot! Then I noticed they sat in the same type of tree as before.
I also always know where to look for the ´one and only´ pheasant in Cronesteyn.
Returning to the same place will make you notice the regular visitors and their preferences. Paying even more attention, you can gain insight into their sounds and behaviour towards others. And who knows, maybe they will get used to you in the long run (see this link).
#3: Understanding your surroundings
¨Nothing is boring if you look at it carefully¨ Freeman Dyson
Every change made to nature happens for a reason, be it animals, plants or for our own sake. Introduction of cattle is useful for promoting biodiversity and providing natural fertilizer amongst other things. Birdhouses, freshly planted trees, marked areas: all signs of conservation efforts and care for nature. By looking carefully at these gradual or sudden changes, you will understand and appreciate the world around you much more.
#4: Days, Seasons, Weather
In rainy weather, animals act differently than on bright sunny days. In spring, many will be a bit more agressive as they have young to protect. We know birds sing at sunrise and sunset but can be a bit more quiet during the day. Seasons come with different colours, weather with different lighting —making it seem like a completely different environment.
All these pictures were made in Cronesteyn, only during winter and under cloudy skies— I might be tempted to post summer pictures when the time comes!
#5: The power of randomness
The chance of something unusual happening increases with the frequency of your visits. The pheasant, usually hiding in the field, showed itself from up close a while ago. Last weekend I saw a family pointing at the sky when three spoonbills flew over; they probably just got back from Africa during this time of year.
One of my friends has seen a kingfisher in the park, which is still on my wish list. Having something to look forward to and not being able to predict everything is what makes experiences fun!
Taken together, all these things will provide so much variety that no walk will be the same. Those planted trees may now be the same height as their neighbours, but you know that they freshly arose from the earth last year. The jogger only comes when it is sunny, but the dog´s owner shows up every saturday no matter the weather. The goose can be approachable in winter, but: beware during spring. The long-tailed tits are usually very lively and loud — could their quietness today be a clue to an upcoming storm tomorrow?
Long story short: open your eyes. Once you notice, you will understand more, and once you understand, you will notice more. Which turns out to be quite satisfying!
Discovering new surroundings is always nice. But next time you´re doubting between staying in or making your way to that park in front of your house, choose the latter. You won´t regret it.
Interested in what the land, sun, moon, stars, trees, plants, animals, sky and clouds can reveal? Check out The Walker´s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs by Tristan Gooley — I can highly recommend it.
More from me:
Story of a Passionate Biologist — Why am I on Medium?
What I love about Terschelling — Exploring the beauty of a Dutch island
Stay updated for more bird posts!
Thanks for reading! I hope you like this blog. I am Mo Schouten, a Biology student located in the Netherlands. Capturing my environment with a camera is what I love most. — — Want to stay updated? I do not have a very fancy subscription page, but please send a message below or via mail/Facebook and I´ll put you on my e-mail list. You will get a notification every time I upload a new post (usually once a week). Comments as well as tips are also welcome; leave them below!
