Campfire Chat: Baby Birds, Big Skies, and the Little Things That Matter
📖 On My Nightstand
Lately, I’ve been digitally flipping through National Wildlife magazine—an absolute gem from the National Wildlife Federation and one of the most beautifully photographed, thoughtfully curated reads around. (You can read it free online or get a print version with a donation.) We’re team digital here—lower footprint, less paper, same bird nerd satisfaction.
🌿 On My Mind
We all know “Leave No Trace” as a hiker’s mantra. But what if we took that into the laundry room? The grocery store? Our inboxes? Leaving no trace doesn’t just mean packing out your trash—it’s a way of paying attention, using less, and giving more. I unpacked this idea more in Leave No Trace—Even at Home, because living lighter doesn’t mean going feral. It just means being intentional.
🥾 On the Ground
Confession: I accidentally evicted a mother bird.
A few weeks ago, I pulled a pile of pine needles out of the hanging plant on our porch, thinking it was windblown debris. Whoops. That “debris” was a starter nest.
Mama bird came back anyway—either she’s wildly forgiving or just very committed. Now we’ve got a full nest of eggs. I found out the hard way when I tried to water the plant and got dive-bombed. Naturally, I cried. Not from the bird scare (okay, maybe a little), but because I thought I might’ve soaked some brand-new babies. We set up a trail cam to monitor the nest without getting too close.
Turns out, no babies yet. The eggs were fine. And mama kept coming back. So yeah, we’re now bird godparents. The flowers in that basket? They’re toast. But it’s worth it for this tiny bit of hope in feathered form.
🕯 Inside the Tent
Our merch shop, Field Trip Outfitters, is quietly thriving—and I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect it. When people first asked for Field Trip merch, I thought, “Who’s going to buy it besides us?” But it’s not just my mom repping the hoodie (though she does rave about it). You’ve shown up in big, beautiful ways. Haven’t peeked yet? Check out the reusable mugs—they’re perfect for coffee on the porch or your next trailhead tailgate. Bonus: Through our 1% for the Planet membership, every purchase supports environmental causes we all care about.
📍 Pinned to the Map
That dreamy moon photo up top? My husband snapped it on our last camping trip. Magical, right? It’s why I became a DarkSky advocate. Yes, night skies are gorgeous—but they’re also crucial for migratory birds, pollinators, and even climate monitoring. I dug into the whole cosmic obsession in Lost in the Stars: Escaping the Glow, if you’re stargazing-curious.
🧵 Thread I’m Pulling
Why do we assume nature has to be remote to be real? What if your backyard, your bird feeder, or your local park picnic is just as valid an adventure? This week’s Pitch a Blanket, Not a Tent story reminds us that sometimes all it takes is finger food and a patch of grass to feel reconnected to nature. (And yes, if there is nosh and a great bottle of wine to be had, I’m in.)
🌩️ Storms and the Search for Blame
Speaking of nature close to home—let’s talk about cloud seeding. After devastating floods in Texas, conspiracy theories started flying faster than the storm winds. Some folks blamed a weather modification startup. But here’s the truth: cloud seeding didn’t drown Texas. Climate change is the real culprit—and pretending otherwise is dangerously distracting. I unpack the full breakdown in Storms and Scapegoats: Did Cloud Seeding Drown Texas?
🛍 It’s Prime Time for Guilt
I broke my Amazon boycott. Prime Days rolled around, and suddenly I was watching Mrs. Maisel and one-clicking a last-minute gift. I’m not proud—but I’m also not alone.
In Click Me, Capitalism: A Confession from Prime Days, I get into the tension so many of us feel: trying to live our values while navigating tight budgets, busy lives, and a system that’s built for convenience over conscience. Shame isn’t the answer—but honesty might be.
🔥 Blaze a Trail
Trail markers, topo maps, a good podcast—some things help us find our way. For me, public media is one of those things. But right now, funding for public radio and TV is at risk. Like our public lands, these stories are worth protecting. Raise your voice — and raise your hand to help:
Why listen to me?
Because I’ve spent the last 15 years writing about the outdoors and conservation, often with muddy boots, dirt under my nails, and too many bug bites to count.
I’m a certified Bee-Friendly Gardener, a Pollinator Steward, and a volunteer with those who care about bats, trails, and treading lightly. I’m also a DarkSky Advocate and a proud member of the SC Native Plant Society, The 89 Percent Project, and 1% for the Planet.
My backyard wildlife habitat—certified by the National Wildlife Federation, Pollinator Partnership, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology—is a wild little résumé of its own.
I started Field Trip for those who’d rather be outside. Now, I focus on researching, asking too many questions, and turning what I learn into stories that help people fall in love with the outdoors. I want to inspire everyone to protect our planet.
Thanks for being here with me.
