October Spotlight - Sights and Sounds of Autumn
By Jan Robinson
On an early October morning, that began with mist and low hanging clouds, I put on my warm jacket and began my normal 2+ mile walk. The cool morning felt refreshing and I could see that the Cascades were covered in the same low clouds. One of the beauties on my walk is seeing the seasons change in the color of the trees and leaves.
This time of year, large leaf maples are colored in green, yellow and orange. The alders are dropping their brown crinkly leaves, as are the smaller shrubs. I remember as a child our father raking the leaves into piles so my siblings and I could jump into them—what fun that was! I highly recommend taking a hike through the trails at the Chehalis River Discovery Trail where you’re sure to see all the beautiful colors of Fall.
On my morning walk, I also heard birds on the move: flocks of smaller birds beginning their long migration south. I’m certain in the next few days, I will also see and hear geese—flying in their typical “V” formation, and swans flying south from the Artic where they will mate and raise the next generation of swans. Did you know that baby swans are called Cygnets and that they can swim and walk just a few short hours after hatching? They often ride on their mother’s back in the water for warmth, rest and protection from predators.
Constellations this time of year: If you’re not familiar with constellations in your corner of the world, there are a multitude of books that will help you identify what you’re seeing. In October, I always look for Orion (named after the mighty hunter in Greek mythology) and its three evenly spaced stars, which represent Orion’s belt. Other constellations I look for are Cygnus (the swan), Ursa Major & Ursa Minor (the bears), Draco the Dragon, and Cassiopeia (the Queen), which looks like the letter “M.” You may also see the Milky Way, which spans a large part of the winter sky.
Whether it’s the crunch of alder leaves underfoot, the distant call of geese overhead, or Orion rising in the evening sky, autumn invites us to slow down and notice the world around us. These seasonal rhythms remind me why the wild places in our corner of Washington are so worth protecting. So grab your warm jacket, step outside, morning or night, and see what the season has to show you.