Can you identify this Rocky Mountain bird?

Plant and animal identification is the first and most important step in getting to know your community.  Being able to put a name to something will help make a place feel like home.

Gosh, this is such a hard concept to explain because it is just something I’ve always accepted and never really thought about.  The reason that I spend time learning how to identify plants and animals is that it gives me a sense of place.  Knowing the names of the birds, insects, rocks, and more helps me to truly appreciate where I live.  It is just like learning the names of the people in my neighborhood makes me feel more connected and part of the community.  At its core, plant and animal identification is crucial to making you feel at home and having a deeper appreciation of your community.

Plant And Animal Identification Makes You Feel At Home

When you move into a new house it is important and natural to meet your neighbors and get to know people in the area.  Learning the names of the people that live around you help give you a sense that you are part of the community.

It is nice when you go to the grocery store and see a friend to say hello to.  Having friends and knowing people helps make a place feel like home.

Well, that community extends beyond just the people and includes the plants and animals in the area.  Learning to identify the different flowers, trees, insects, and birds all help you get to know your community.

The Maroon Bells in Colorado is in the Southern Rockies.  What are the trees in this area?  What animals usually live somewhere like this?  Moose?  Bear?  Kangaroo?  Tiger?

The first step to making yourself feel at home is to learn the names of your neighbors – whether they are people, flowers, or birds.

First Is Identification, Then Comes Learning Behavior

Once you get to know their names you can begin to learn about their behavior.

After learning the names of your neighbors or your kids friends’ parents you can begin to truly know them as you learn about their behavior.  You can learn what activities or hobbies they enjoy, where they live or work.

Plants and animals are the same as this.  Once you can identify a Black Capped Chickadee you can then begin to observe where it lives or what times of day you are likely to see it in different areas of your neighborhood.  Or you can learn how it survives the cold winters of the Rockies.

A Clarks nutcracker is a common bird of the Rocky Mountains that stores seeds.

Plant And Animal Identification Gives You Better Appreciation Of Natural World

Being able to put a name to a bird, flower, or insect and understanding a little bit about its behavior will truly allow you to get to know your community.  Not only will you understand more about your community and home, but if you see the same bird or flower elsewhere you will feel comfortable and at home.

For example, if you get to know a Clark’s Nutcracker in your area and you see one elsewhere you will already have a clue about the local community.  That bird in an area may mean that there are conifer forests nearby because that is the main area they live.