Have you ever sat glued to the television watching documentary after documentary on animals? Have you read hundreds of books on the natural world?
Did you admire the person who explained each and every movement of an animal right from a tiny ant to huge herds of elephants? And did you ever dream of becoming that person equipped with a vast knowledge of the natural world?
I always used to wonder what it would be like to be the person who got to see all the natural wonders of the world in all its amazing glory. I wanted to travel and explore forests all around the world. Those early days of fascination with animals explained in books and on television motivated me to study for a biology degree.
But, you don’t need a biology degree to explore the natural world. The only thing you need to have is abundant curiosity and immense love for nature!!
It is easy for everyone to become a naturalist. I am going to provide you with a step-by-step guide to becoming the kind of naturalist that you’ve always dreamt you would become. Here is how you can achieve that.
Step 1: Step outside
The first step in the journey of becoming a naturalist is to step outside the comfort of your home into your backyard garden. If you live in an apartment as I do, you can always go to the park in your neighbourhood. I assure you that you don’t need to go to a far-off national park and spend exorbitant amounts of money just to see some animals.
Many animals live right in front of us but we don’t notice them because of our busy schedules. The best time to go out would be in the mornings when animals become energised under the sun’s warmth and get ready to find some delicious food.
Before you step outside, make sure you do all the things a professional biologist would do. Wear appropriate clothing such as a full-sleeved shirt and full pants to avoid scratches or injuries while being outside. Make sure you apply sunscreen lotion and insect repellent spray.
Carry a backpack packed with a bottle of water and snacks with you at all times so that you don’t get thirsty or hungry. Believe me, you will! I always carry my favourite oat bar wherever I go.
Step 2: Spot the animals:
Now comes the fun part, spotting animals! This is truly like solving a mystery. Don your Sherlock Holmes hat and start searching for clues on animal activities. These clues might be animal walking trails, scattered fur, feathers or droppings.
Once you find the clues, start looking for the animals. If you spot a nice bushy tree or a shrub, you just need to sit nearby for a few minutes and watch. You’ll soon enter a whole new world.
You will see bugs and beetles going about their business, like tiny office-goers walking to and fro in a frenzy. Colourful butterflies and busy bees prancing around flowers, intoxicated by nectar and soaking in the sun’s warmth. You will see tiny lizards poking out their tongues from behind rocks, trying to eat the poor little bugs.
You will notice mama birds with eggs in their nests and baby birds crying for food high up in the trees. If you are lucky enough to find a stream during rainy weather, you will be treated to the croaking symphony of a million frogs.
Trust me, you will find beauty everywhere if you just sit and stare at a shrub or a tree. However, keep in mind not to touch a plant or an animal even if it looks tiny and harmless because you never know what might be poisonous. I always have to stop myself from touching each and everything.
Step 3: Observe and question their behaviour
The next step you need to do after spotting all the beautiful creatures is to observe their behaviour. If you want to observe a tiny bug, carry a magnifying glass with you. Or if you love to observe birds, carry binoculars wherever you go.
Then you need to ask yourself lots of questions. Have you seen a child’s enthusiasm and incessant questioning? Become a small child again.
Start questioning each and every little movement of the critters that you see. Think about why two butterfly species have the same patterns and colours. Ask yourself why different bird species have different kinds of beaks. Think about how the structure of their bodies allows them to fly great distances. Ask why some birds build their nests on the ground and why some others build nests high up in the trees.
Ask yourself what drives animals to do what they do. Make up your own explanations for these questions. This is the most fundamental thing in the scientific world. It is called a hypothesis which is a made-up idea about how things work based on what you observe. By repeatedly observing the animals, you will gain better knowledge of their behaviour.
Step 4: Document your observations
All the early explorers of the natural world recorded everything that they saw. We now have a large database of knowledge which we can refer to, thanks to their diligent recordings.
Carry a notebook and a waterproof pen whenever you go out. Scientists always document their observations in what is called a field journal. A field journal is just a notebook to write down what you observe.
This is a very important step because you will forget what you see in a few days’ time. I know I do. That’s why I always jot down everything right from the little details like date, time, temperature and location to the species name, the behaviour of the animals, etc.
I also try to draw whatever I see and note down the colours as well if I need to identify an animal. This notebook will surely come in handy in the future. Of course, you can always take photographs using your phone or DSLR camera.
Step 5: Refer to a reliable source
You can refer to good field guides when you want to identify any creatures you do not know. Even if you do know the species name of the animals, it is useful to see a field guide because there will be additional information about their habitat, distribution range, feeding habits, etc.
I have separate field guidebooks for each animal class right from mammals to little beetles. If you feel that books are too heavy to carry around, you can install field guide apps on your phone, which you can use to easily look up any animal.
Then, you should compare your notes with other reliable sources such as books or good websites on the internet. You will learn a lot more about the animals. So the next time you go out to observe, you will have an idea of what the animals are doing.
If you find that there is some unusual behaviour which you didn’t read in books, you can note it down in your notebook. Who knows? You might be the first person to have seen it!! How exciting would that be?
Step 6: Share and discuss
The final step is to share your observations. You can do this by joining your local naturalist’s club. This is where you will find like-minded individuals with whom you can explore the natural world together.
You can also join virtual Facebook groups where you can connect with people from around the world who share the same interests. There are plenty of people on Facebook who are willing to share what they know.
Share what you observe and ask plenty of questions if you are unsure about any subject. People who have expert knowledge on the subject will help you gain a better understanding.
In addition to that, you can work with professional biologists by joining citizen science projects. By participating in these projects, you will be contributing to important research that might make a huge difference for the animals that you love.
Lastly, amaze your family and friends by telling them about all the fascinating stuff that you find.
Well, what are you waiting for? Go outside and become an amazing amateur naturalist. And don’t forget to share all your adventures with me!
