This was so uplifting, Tom, thank you. I was just in an older suburb (1950s-era—I think—brick houses, quiet but not a lot of trees) near Denver for a week where the lack of birdsong was noticeable, especially coming back to my own neighborhood which I’ve come to realize must be good habitat. Made me sad thinking of habitat loss, but reading this reminds me that repair happens faster than we realize. Kudos to you, and thanks! for doing that cleanup! Satisfying work sometimes.
You're welcome. Remember that we don't build of solid stone like the Romans did; concrete and steel decay and are subsumed. Obviously I'd like to see more sustainable construction, but our civilization will not be a scar upon the Earth if we change our ways, even if we leave places to rot. The Titanic is *protected* by seawater. In a humid environment, cars and ships oxidize into thin air. Open pit mines will take geological time to erase, depending on where they are. The mines in Australia are likely to remain, it seems less affected by plate tectonics, as Pilbara is 3.6 billion years old. I'm concerned about plastic waste, and of course climate change—it was 100 degrees today—but our mistakes won't eliminate all life. Just us and most of the megafauna, who will rise again after we're gone, if we continue on this path.
That’s so cool about the cleanup work you’re doing!
And I too love cedar waxwings — so often birds are badly named but in their case that slicked back waxy look is so distinctive!
This was so uplifting, Tom, thank you. I was just in an older suburb (1950s-era—I think—brick houses, quiet but not a lot of trees) near Denver for a week where the lack of birdsong was noticeable, especially coming back to my own neighborhood which I’ve come to realize must be good habitat. Made me sad thinking of habitat loss, but reading this reminds me that repair happens faster than we realize. Kudos to you, and thanks! for doing that cleanup! Satisfying work sometimes.
You're welcome. Remember that we don't build of solid stone like the Romans did; concrete and steel decay and are subsumed. Obviously I'd like to see more sustainable construction, but our civilization will not be a scar upon the Earth if we change our ways, even if we leave places to rot. The Titanic is *protected* by seawater. In a humid environment, cars and ships oxidize into thin air. Open pit mines will take geological time to erase, depending on where they are. The mines in Australia are likely to remain, it seems less affected by plate tectonics, as Pilbara is 3.6 billion years old. I'm concerned about plastic waste, and of course climate change—it was 100 degrees today—but our mistakes won't eliminate all life. Just us and most of the megafauna, who will rise again after we're gone, if we continue on this path.
🧡💪❤️🩹