ambience: Wood Thrush
Making it through a frigid winter in the Finger Lakes region of Naples, New York is viewed by many locals as an accomplishment. With spring’s arrival comes nature’s renewal. It is also when the wood thrush returns to Pulse of the Planet listeners DJ and Cami Kitzel’s neighborhood. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
The first time DJ heard the thrush was when he opened the window above his newborn son’s bed. Since then it’s become a yearly reminder.
“The wood thrush connects me to the birth of my son, the wonder, the stress, the sleepless nights, the excitement. And although the thrush returning is predictable, it’s nonetheless surprising when it shows up. It’s a renewal.”
For Cami Kitzel, the thrush’s singing is an annual reconnection to the family’s home and it’s woodland community.
“Well, and when we moved here it was just a two room little cabin. The woods were very overgrown and we saw it as a place of possibilities. And we knew we’d do it all ourselves. So every year, we get a piece of that possible dream done. So, when snow melts, and we look out, we never forget to stop and say ‘wow, look how this place has changed since we moved here. It’s so beautiful.’ And so every year, when the kind of the outdoor work season begins, I know we are going to get a big piece of that work done. And next spring we’ll look out and things will be different again.”
“And hearing the thrush is like a touchstone to that.”
To hear about our new CD, please visit pulseplanet.com Pulse of the Planet is made possible by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.