Give Nature a Closer Look
BY JULIE THOMAS, PhD
I have just begun a volunteer job with Monarch Watch at Spring Creek Prairie — and fortunately, my husband joined me! We envisioned ourselves as local data collectors (part of nationwide education and conservation efforts) helping to preserve and protect the migratory pathway of America’s favorite butterfly. We worried to find our assigned plot included 175 milkweed plants — and we had agreed to inspect every leaf and record all incidences of Monarch caterpillar stages (egg to chrysalis) on a weekly basis for 2-3 months. In just 30 muddy-wet-minutes into our first day of Monarch data collection, we realized this job included a bonus opportunity to give nature a closer look.
Once we leaned into our milkweed plants, we were charmed by the unique behaviors of the many insects crawling around us. We were reminded of the stories Chris Helzer (scientist, author, photographer) is sharing online about his new, closer look at nature. This 25-year veteran of prairie studies is conducting a photographic study (focused on a one-meter square prairie plot within LincolnCreek Prairie in Aurora, NE) and still finding a new appreciation for the simple dynamics of the natural world. Though Helzer is looking at small things through the macro-lens of a camera, we find one can see a lot with the naked eye! Though we will no doubt log many Monarch events — for now, we are delighted by things like crab spiders, lady beetles, and budding milkweed flowers!
It seems my recent wade into the prairie points to the important role we have in helping our children connect with the natural world. Remember when our parents helped gather jars and boxes to contain our interesting specimen collections? For sure, this helpfulness on our parents’ part protected the plant/animal and kept the house clean — but our parents were also encouraging us to notice and care about nature. You may need to take the lead in getting today’s kids outdoors but, if you can get a kid up-close-and-personal with a lady beetle (or any other bug for that matter), it will make your day — and help encourage nature appreciation and awareness for the coming generation.
Explore More Online
Chris Helzer: prairieecologist.com/about
Spring Creek Prairie (Denton, NE): springcreek.audubon.org
Lincoln Creek Prairie (Aurora, NE): prairieplains.org/preserves/lincoln-creek-prairie-and-trail.html
Julie Thomas, PhD, is a retired Science Educator and a Research Professor Emerita from the University of Nebraska and a contributing writer for 55+.
photo credits: Chris Helzer
