The West Coast is on fire. Endangered species’ habitats are facing ruin. We have turned to the Greek alphabet to name new tropical storms and hurricanes. It is not a time for the faint of heart when it comes to perusing news about nature.
Some days, then, it feels increasingly important to acknowledge the beauty and whimsy in the world, for it is a good reminder as to why we push forward through it all. And lately, puffins keep capturing my attention, thanks to one online source that provides a glimpse into the world beyond headlines of despair (though you will certainly see photos of California on fire). I have been so happy to stumble upon a number of puffin photos this month that I decided I needed to post about The Naturalist’s Notebook.
First, why puffins? When I see puffins, I think of Maine. We brought our daughter to Acadia National Park when she was just three months old, and when we returned after she turned two, she became fascinated with puffins. Of course, she was mostly seeing those of the stuffed animal variety, having no memory of the ones we’d seen on a boat outing during her debut visit. Still, for me they elicit memories of a relaxing week spent with family, mostly outdoors.
It was during our first visit with her that I initially encountered the Naturalist’s Notebook, which then had two storefronts, one of which was in Northeast Harbor, where we stayed. In addition to our walks in the Acadia and surrounding areas, we had the opportunity to explore Northeast Harbor itself. We were within walking distance of the town’s main street, and one day happened to stroll into The Naturalist’s Notebook. I’m a sucker for quaint little bookstores. I mean, let’s not kid ourselves; I’m a sucker for any bookstore, but throw one into the middle of my first vacation as part of our new family of three, and it was destined to become a favorite spot.
The interactive book shop is now located solely in Seal Harbor, The Naturalist’s Notebook also has a traditional website, as well as a spectacular Facebook page. The website itself is a bit haphazard: the blog hasn’t been touched in a while; various landing pages are sparsely populated, and so on. Nevertheless, exploring it feels a bit like a treasure hunt, with rewards always just around the corner.
The Facebook page, which is continually updated and worth a follow, is the place to direct your attention for a daily dose of fascinating nature photography. Individuals are invited to submit photos of what they are observing in the natural world, wherever they are.
Digging deeper into the stories behind some of the photos can extend your exploration. Another recent puffin photo (below) featured by The Naturalist’s Notebook also happens to be one of the finalists in this year’s mood-lightening Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Previous years’ winners are also available to view.
In the face of the despair of every front page article lately, sometimes it is good to step back and appreciate the things that can make us smile for a moment. We will not be in Maine this year, so I can’t say what would have delighted my now-four-year-old, but happily, armchair adventures are one way to explore without leaving home.
