SCOTT SHALAWAY Making some memories with field notes

"Fri., 14 Nov. 1986. 6:30 a.m. Winter's here. Split more firewood. Feeders swamped with birds -- dozens of goldfinches, 14 cardinals, 7 chickadees, 6 titmice, 2 w/b nuthatches, and 2 downy woodpeckers. Buy more sunflower seed."
"Fri., 21 Nov. 1986. First pine siskins (20) and evening grosbeaks (6) of season this a.m. At dawn, 8 deer bedded down in pasture below house; 4 does and 4 young-of-year."
"There., 12 Dec. 1986. 6:30 p.m. Clear and cold. Scanned southwest skies for Haley's Comet as described on TV. Sighted with 15x spotting scope, but image less than spectacular. Big disappointment."
These excerpts from my field notes help me recall what I've seen in years past, and more importantly, they signal what I should be looking for as fall approaches. By keeping a field journal, I have a written record of my world. I can compare events from year to year or decade to decade.
Keeping field notes also makes me a better nature watcher. I pay more attention to detail. It fine-tunes my powers of observation.
Referring to them: And after you begin keeping field notes, you'll find yourself referring to them regularly.
Where did you shoot that 10-point buck back in 1982? Check your notes.
Who was that friendly angler you met at your favorite trout stream last year? It's in your journal.
When should you put up or take down your hummingbird feeder? Check your notebook to see when humors arrived or departed last year.
And fear not; you needn't be a skilled writer to keep field notes. You do this for yourself, so keep notes simple and informal. And brief. Write in phrases. Abbreviate. Don't worry about grammar or spelling. But be clear enough so that others might someday understand your message. The only inviolate rule is to keep notes legible so they can be read in the future.
Observe and react: Record both observations and your reaction to them. In retrospect, I find I enjoy my response to an event as much as I do the event itself. For example, thanks to my notes, I'll always remember that the 1986 visit by Haley's Comet was a real letdown.
Nature journalizing is also a great way to get kids to write outside of school. Start by having them describe activities at a bird feeder or the antics of squirrels or pigeons in a city park. For more formal instruction, consult Nature Journalizing: Learning to Observe and Connect with the World Around You by Claire Walker Leslie and Charles Wroth (1998, $26.95, Story Books).
A parent and child starting out together will find many tips on how to observe, what to write, and how to sketch. Even primitive drawings are an invaluable addition to any field notebook..
A field notebook can take any form. I use 4x6-inch pocket notebooks in the field and transfer the highlights to a master weekly planner I keep on my desk. Some prefer larger sketch pads, and others even use pocket recorders or hand-held computers, but I prefer the process of putting pen to paper.
Permanent ink: To make sure your notes will be useful in years to come, here are a few more pointers. Use permanent ink that won't smear when wet. It is after all a field notebook. Get in the habit of recording a standard set of information for each entry: date, time, weather conditions and a detailed description of the location. Describe the location so that even a stranger could find it.
Sometimes the practical value of good field notes can have real social significance.
Written documentation of rare plants and animals can help stymie urban sprawl.
Field notes can also have sentimental value. Someday they might help your grandchildren find your favorite fishing hole or birding spot and recall the "good ol' days." And if the area has changed for the worse, they'll have documentation of the way things were.
Only good results from field notes. A detailed written record may be the best way to give something back to the natural world you've spent a lifetime knowing and loving.
sshalaway @aol.com.