The latest post in the "Sense of Wonder in the Field” blog series is hot off the press! In it, Gavin Shwahla, the 2019 avian monitoring intern at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, reflects on his summer of fieldwork collecting valuable data on the saltmarsh sparrow, a vulnerable species of our southern Maine salt marsh systems. He revels in the symphony of the salt marsh, yet recounts the necessary temporary disturbance of the very music he so loves in order to do the work needed to protect this threatened species. Describing the the waterlogged nests of the saltmarsh sparrow due to rising sea levels, Gavin writes, “… as we disconnect further from our collective sense of wonder, the marsh pays the price.” Please carve some time out of your day to check out Gavin’s blog post and reconnect with your own sense of wonder, maybe even step outside and tune in to the majestic symphony.
Photo Credit: Kit Straley/USFWS. A saltmarsh sparrow ready to be released. Monitoring efforts are being used by wildlife professionals to protect this declining species.
Sense of Wonder in the Field Blog Series: Salt Marsh Majesty: https://medium.com/usfishandwildlifeservicenortheast/sense-of-wonder-in-the-field-saltmarsh-majesty-c565b4f564b7
You can find more of Gavin Shwahla’s inspiring work at www.gavinwild.com and follow @gavinwildvisuals on Facebook and Instagram to support his mission to “re-wild the soul of the world” through art and entertainment!