So, why do I blog? I love taking photographs. I wish I could nature journal, but taking photos seems to be my default activity. I use my photos as context for my outdoor adventures and experiences. While my primary interest has always been birds, over the years I've branched out to anything that moves or grows in the wild. There is something very satisfying about seeing a living thing and then trying to identify it. In deep summer when the birds are quiet and hidden in the leaves, my attention turns to dragonflies, butterflies and wildflowers. When I travel there would be no way for me to remember the details of my trip if I didn't write about it. The same is true for enjoying an ordinary daily outing.
Many of my blog entries also have a significant amount of narrative. This is despite my belief that when others, especially birders or other naturalists, view blogs they are really only interested in seeing the photos. I use my blog to practice my writing and got this idea from another blogging friend who is a real writer and has published her research and other articles. I've read a lot of my friend's writing and she is a very readable writer. I'm retired now, but when I was working I read things like medical documentation and medical research. Important for sure, but definitely not what one considers readable. This was also the kind of writing my work required of me. I can say with certainty that this is the kind of writing would choke a horse. It takes a lot of practice to develop a writing style and it's a pleasure to write words, sentences and paragraphs that form pieces that are much different. My writing has improved thanks to having this blog although stylistically it still needs practice. So, while I believe that others are mostly interested in only the photos, the writing is for me. If others also happen to read it, and like it, that's good too.
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