Dodson’s Bird Observatory Field Journal
On a calm summer evening, with the sun dipping low behind the trees, I took a slow walk through the half-acre section of our backyard that we’ve chosen to let return to native vegetation. These photos were taken on June 21, 2025, as the golden light filtered through a mosaic of grasses and emerging wildflowers—evidence of nature’s quiet comeback.
Long before we moved here, this property was part of a working agricultural field. Today, it sits adjacent to an 80-acre hayfield that is still harvested at least twice a year. Earlier this spring, I broadcast roughly 18,000 wildflower seeds across this plot. Now, in early summer, tiny white blooms and splashes of color are beginning to dot the tall grass.
We're managing this rewilding effort by mowing a few meandering paths through the area. These paths offer us a way to experience the field up close—observing wildlife, tracking plant progress, and simply enjoying the peacefulness of a space being given back to nature.
We're also encouraging the natural restoration of an old fencerow along one edge of the property. Once choked with brush and broken limbs, it is now becoming a sanctuary, with native shrubs, saplings, and vines creating shelter and food sources for birds and other wildlife. A simple birdhouse nearby helps support cavity-nesting species.
This space is transforming before our eyes—not through force, but through patience and observation. We're not just watching nature return; we’re participating in its renewal.
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