I selected this spot because the tree coverage has created a natural protection from the sun, rain, and it is hidden from nearby wildlife trails. This hidden quality is what hopefully will allow me to see and keep track of the area’s wildlife. The less practical reason I chose this spot is because its right next to a small clearing that I would go to as a kid to just get away and think. That clearing has always been my place and it’s nice that I get to sit and keep watch over it now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sit spot has a direct view towards natural trails in front of me and to my left. It has a prefect view of a small clearing that is connected to another trail that is usually frequented by deer. The clearing has multiple pine tree saplings growing and scattered fern clusters covering the ground. The spot I actually sit is a part of a tree whose branch grew very close to the ground. The branch is very stable, but very stiff to sit on for long periods of time. There is a tree diagonal from me that provide a great deal of the coverage, and who’s root as become exposed above ground giving me a nice foot prop.

I begin to move the leaves that covered the forest floor away from where I would be sitting. Once my small area was clear I was able to sit and not worry about causing any noise if I had the urge to move or shift my position. I sat there for a while and let the forest envelop me in its world. I could smell the moist dirt that I had disturbed from moving the leaves around. I felt the long-awaited breeze of fall move passed me and saw it cause the leaves, ferns, and other plants around me dance. A bit of movement caught my eye as the breeze slowed, so I glanced to my right to see a small spider working tirelessly on saving its meal. Its legs were hard at work spinning its prey in a small, white, oval package of web. When the wind would pick up the spider would stop to hold on the web and its meal, but once the wind died down it was back to work. This continued for several minutes until its work was complete. After it had finished it picked up its prize and carried it to the end of the web and out of my sight.

A few minutes later a strange knocking noise a few feet above my head. Puzzled I looked up hoping to see what had joined me, but the foliage above me made it impossible to see my new neighbor. The knocking continued in the pattern five, three, pause and this continued for four times (once I started to count at least). As I listened, I realized it must be a squirrel trying to open a nut. My hypothesis was confirmed when something small and dense fell down from the tree and crashed on the leaves on the ground a few feet away from me. I doubted it knew I was there. I was to well-hidden from anything in the trees above my head, but if that nut had landed on my head it would have found out really quickly that it wasn’t alone.

The focus in time was something kind of familiar to me especially during this time of year. Zoning in on everything around me is a rush of senses that we have turned off to dwell in urban life. It starts with my ears. I slowly begin to hear the things around me like the wind pushing the trees and the sound of birds calling above my head. Next I allow my eyes to wander to whatever moves or catches their interest. Then my nose begins to inform me of what I am o above or near, like the dirt under my feet or the scent of pine as I walk in to the nearby clearing of saplings to leave. I have always enjoyed this rush of sense because it makes me feel like I have some sort of control or information that others don’t or they miss out on.