The Naturalist at Home

PRAISE FOR KELLY BRENNER’S FIRST BOOK, NATURE OBSCURA“Readers will be both mesmerized by the surprising poetry of Brenner’s prose and excited to follow her example and discover nature’s marvels in their own surroundings.”—Booklist“Brenner brings an infectious curiosity to urban nature. . . . With Nature Obscura, readers need not venture far to discover a natural world teeming with life.”—Shelf Awareness“This unofficial guide to finding wildlife in unexpected areas is wide ranging and companionable. Also included are tips and resources for budding urban naturalists.”—Library Journal“. . . embraces the mystery even as it searches for answers . . . it’s a relief to be transported via Brenner’s calm, elegant prose to the worlds of tardigrades and snails, moths and molds.”—The Seattle Times“Drawing upon her astonishing fine ability to notice, and find both fascination and enjoyment in, things that are all-too-easily missed in the daily hurly-burly of the modern world—mosses, ferns, crows, muskrats, slime molds (especially slime molds)—Ms. Brenner uses her exquisite command of the English language to guide her readers along on a tour of the wonders to be found in the natural world that is not far-off and exotic, but close, easily accessible, and remarkably (for lack of a better word) cozy.”—The Well-Read Naturalist“Impeccably researched and written, Brenner’s smart debut is ideal for those with a deep interest in nature.”—Publishers Weekly“. . . Brenner’s book is a comforting reminder that nature can be spotted just about anywhere.”—Outside Online“Naturalist Kelly Brenner is keen to show that nature is ‘within easy access.’ ”—BBC Wildlife Magazine“A warm-hearted meditation on the natural wonders that we city dwellers overlook every day, such as the western pondhawk (a dragonfly), licorice ferns, and the charming Anna’s hummingbird, her heart beating 1,250 times a minute—and the perhaps less charming ant-decapitating fly and, yes, Fuligo septima, a.k.a., dogvomit slime mold . . . Once you read this book you’ll step more carefully, to avoid damaging the myriad tiny worlds that add color and texture to our world.”—Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile“Gorgeously written and deeply felt, with rigorous research and information at its core.”—Jeff VanderMeer, author of the Southern Reach trilogy“Nature Obscura reveals the living city through delightful encounters with natural neighbors we all ought to know. An attentive, fun, and thoroughly engaging guide, Kelly Brenner will help you become a better naturalist every day.”—Robert Michael Pyle, author of Sky Time in Gray’s River“With observant eyes and beautiful prose, Kelly Brenner draws us all into the hidden depths of the urban wilderness. Hummingbirds, dragonflies, ferns, and even slime molds come to vibrant life alongside stories of the humans who keep watch over the nature that surrounds us. Nature Obscura inspires everyday wonder, adventure, and wisdom about our changing earth.”—Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Mozart’s Starling and Crow Planet Projects for Discovering the Hidden World Around Us MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS is dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and enjoyment of outdoor and wilderness areas.1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134800-553-4453, www.mountaineersbooks.orgCopyright © 2023 by Kelly BrennerAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.Mountaineers Books and its colophon are registered trademarks of The Mountaineers organization.Printed in ChinaDistributed in the United Kingdom by Cordee, www.cordee.co.uk26 25 24 23 1 2 3 4 5Copyeditor: Jennifer KeplerDesign and layout: Jen GrableAll illustrations by the author. Cover illustrations: front: Acorn barnacle (Project 4); curiosity cabinet (Project 20); underwing moth (Project 8); back: lacewing (Project 11); springtail (Project 6)Disclaimer: Please use common sense. It is incumbent upon any user of this book to assess their skills, experience, and materials; to assume responsibility for their own activities; and to recognize the inherent dangers when looking for moths in the dark, using superglue, or performing other activities related to these projects. The publisher and author are expressly not responsible for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information contained in this book.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022039437. The ebook record is available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022039438.Mountaineers Books titles may be purchased for corporate, educational, or other promotional sales, and our authors are available for a wide range of events. For information on special discounts or booking an author, contact our customer service at 800-553-4453 or [email protected] on FSC-certified materialsISBN (paperback): 978-1-68051-573-2ISBN (ebook): 978-1-68051-574-9 There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,There is a rapture on the lonely shore,There is society where none intrudes,By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:I love not Man the less, but Nature more,From these our interviews, in which I stealFrom all I may be, or have been before,To mingle with the Universe, and feelWhat I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.—Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage ContentsIntroduction: Becoming a NaturalistPROJECT 1Keep a Nature JournalPROJECT 2Go Pond DippingPROJECT 3Create a Wetland in a JarPROJECT 4Make a BathyscopePROJECT 5Preserve Animal Tracks and SignsPROJECT 6Find Tardigrades and Other Moss AnimalsPROJECT 7Find Your Face MitesPROJECT 8Go Sugaring for MothsPROJECT 9Make a Berlese FunnelPROJECT 10Make a Pitfall TrapPROJECT 11Go Bush BeatingPROJECT 12Make a Habitat TerrariumPROJECT 13Preserve a SpiderwebPROJECT 14Make a Mushroom Spore PrintPROJECT 15Grow Slime Molds in a Moist ChamberPROJECT 16Make Tree Bark Rubbings and CastsPROJECT 17Press PlantsPROJECT 18Grow a Microbial GardenPROJECT 19Learn the Language of NaturePROJECT 20Create a Curiosity CabinetAcknowledgmentsResources Introduction:Becoming a Naturalist“A naturalist is lucky in two respects. First, he enjoys every bit of the world about him and has a much more enriched life than someone who is not interested in nature. Second, he can indulge his hobby in any place at any time, for a naturalist will be fascinated to watch nature struggling to exist in the midst of a great city as well as observe its riotous splendor in a tropical rainforest.”—Gerald Durrell, The Amateur NaturalistEven in July the waters of Puget Sound are so cold that if a naturalist wades in wearing sandals, their toes can become so numb they won’t notice a broken shell stuck in their foot. I stood stoically,