The COVID-19 outbreak has been kind of a drag for many of us this year. I have to say it has put a big damper on several things. I am president of the South Nature and Outdoors club at TCC South as well as a Cross Timbers Master Naturalist. Life has been rather weird due to not being able to be around friends and having things cancelled left and right. However, I have been able to cope with it rather well. Playing video games, reading books both about nature and science fiction, going out and collecting wildlife data and photographs, making good food and listening to music are some of the ways I have been able to cope. Being cooped up in the house drives me nuts so I do have to get out in my yard every now and then. When I do go out to observe wildlife, which I just did with this year’s City Nature Challenge, I didn’t gather in a large group. I wore a mask and stayed away from human contact, which is a little different than in years past. Still, getting out in nature is one of the best ways I have coped with the COVID-19 outbreak. Nature has always been therapeutic for me.
During COVID-19, I did a few things on social media via Facebook live during the CNC; I did some live feeds from a few of the things I did and talked about the observations I made and gave my friends positive messages and what not while I was out in my backyard looking for wildlife while I was mothing. Mothing is a cool nature activity where you put out a sheet and an ultraviolet light or another light that has a different wavelength, then watch the insects of the night come to the light. Social media is a great way to connect with others. Even though we are apart we are still together. Reach out and make a difference in your community like I have been doing.