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| Why do birds sing? |
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| Written by Sue Berliner |
| Thursday, 21 April 2011 19:28 |
| Why do birds sing? I don’t know. From the reaction of the bird lovers around me at the sold out Audubon Society Film Festival; they were just as stumped. David Rothenberg, musician, composer, author, philosopher-naturalist and producer of the documentary: Why Birds Sing, would do anything to support his controversial idea that birds might actually be singing for the sheer joy of it. Including filming himself stripped down to his tighty-whities in a hotel room while recording his clarinet chirping. It was not a pretty visual and I missed the purpose. After the flick, I joked with the friend that suggested the event; I requested he repay the lost hour of my life. Then, the strangest thing happened the next morning. Upon finishing a ride on a regularly traveled route, I heard birds singing and I smiled. It is a solid bet the birds perform regularly at that corner. I just never heard them or worse; I did not listen to them. It is so easy to become disengaged from our surroundings. We have become a reclusive society. We insulate ourselves in offices, cars and at home. Even while working out, plugging in and tuning out seems to be the norm. Nature and the outdoors have gotten lost in our Shuffle. It is not surprising the only tweets we tune into are from Twitter. Thomas L. Friedman wrote in his latest bestseller, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America: Children who connect with nature perform better in school, have higher SAT scores, exhibit fewer behavioral problems and experience fewer attention deficit disorders. We are hard wired to enjoy nature. The impetus for that quote: Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods. Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. Louv’s book delves into the staggering divide between children and the outdoors. A child advocacy expert, Louv directly linked the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation—he calls it nature-deficit—to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. He brought together research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. The book spawned Leave No Child Inside initiatives throughout North America (www.childrenandnature.org/). The last week of September, activities were held across the country to celebrate Take a Child Outside Week. The goal is to break down obstacles that keep children from exploring the natural world. Outdoor recreation provides numerous benefits. It is good for the mind, aids in stress reduction; improved self-esteem, confidence and creativity; spiritual growth; and an increased sense of exhilaration, adventure and challenge from life. Physical benefits include cardiovascular and muscular fitness, as well as improved functioning of the immune system. Outdoor activities can enhance ones social life by connecting with like-minded people. It has economic payoffs. People who regularly participate in outdoor recreation tend to be more productive at work and it can create job opportunities. Outdoor recreation can help the environment as awareness and involvement increase. This is especially true for today’s youth. If a child sees a babbling brook, experiences the shade of a tall aspen or hears a bird sing, it encourages concern for Planet Earth. We need to groom our next generation of stewards. I may opt out of the next Audubon Society Film Festival, but once I heard the birds sing the morning following the movie, I no longer required the return of my lost hour. The waste turned into value. I was better for attending and happy I did. I understand why time flies for me while traversing a trail but piddles along pounding pavement. “I think you might dispense with half your doctors if you would only consult Dr. Sun more.” –Henry Ward Beecher, Author (1813-1887) I am Sue Berliner, a.k.a. the SWEAT Princess and publisher of SWEAT Magazine, Arizona's Sports and Fitness Resource. My mission is providing information and inspiration for a healthier life.By Sue Berliner Originally published in the October 2009 issue SWEAT Magazine, Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. |
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