Cinder and the Springtime
In this episode from the "Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep" podcast, the host shares an endearing account of closely observing a pair of nesting mourning doves. Over the course of spring and summer, she witnessed their intricate nest construction and the nurturing of two sets of chicks to fledglings.
The host reflects on her family's tradition of providing natural materials to aid nesting birds, a practice she continues with her extraordinary cat Cinder. With keen intuition for interspecies connections, Cinder not only avoids disturbing the doves but assists in this seasonal ritual, accompanying the host on nature walks to collect supplies like pine needles and milkweed for the birds' nests. The host's tale pays homage to the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and nature.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the May 6, 2024 episode of the Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
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1-Page Summary
Kathryn Observes the Mourning Doves
Kathryn unexpectedly discovered a mourning dove nest being built on her bathroom windowsill and eagerly observed the doves' nesting rituals. She marveled at their skilled nest construction using pine needles, hay, and scraps. While initially cautious, the doves grew accustomed to Kathryn's presence.
Over spring and summer, Kathryn witnessed the doves nurture two sets of chicks to fledglings. She reflected that the term "a piteousness of mourning doves" didn't capture their vibrant activity. When the doves migrated, their sturdy nest weathered the winter, awaiting their return.
Cinder the Extraordinary Cat
Kathryn describes her cat Cinder as unusually empathetic, intuitively understanding the dove situation and avoiding disturbance. Beyond a pet, Cinder's caregiving instincts lead her to connect strays and lonely creatures with humans needing companionship - acting as a matchmaker.
Practical Magic Traditions
Kathryn fondly recalls her grandmother's springtime rituals providing nesting materials like moss, lichen and cobwebs for returning birds. Following her grandmother's ethos that magic should benefit nature, Kathryn gathers these items with Cinder.
On bike rides to the woods, Kathryn collects pine needles, milkweed fluff and moss. Kathryn reflects on testing sedum for the mourning doves' nests, aiming to aid their nestbuilding - continuing her family's tradition of practical magic benefiting the natural world.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can create a safe viewing area to observe local wildlife by setting up a designated spot near a window with binoculars and a wildlife identification guide to learn about the species that visit your yard.
- Choose a window that overlooks an area where birds are likely to visit, like a garden or trees. Keep a pair of binoculars and a guidebook handy to identify the species and their behaviors. This can deepen your appreciation for local wildlife and provide a relaxing pastime.
- Enhance your garden's appeal to birds by planting native shrubs and flowers that provide natural food sources and nesting materials.
- Research plants that are indigenous to your region and known to attract birds. Incorporate these into your garden to offer birds a habitat they recognize and prefer, which can encourage them to build nests nearby.
- Foster a compassionate environment for neighborhood animals by setting up a small shelter and water station in your backyard.
- Use a simple wooden box or repurposed container as a shelter for small animals and birds, and place a shallow dish of water nearby. This can provide a safe haven for creatures in need and allow you to observe acts of animal empathy and connection in your own backyard.
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Kathryn's observations and experiences with the mourning doves and their nest
Kathryn's unexpected window into nature provides her with the daily rituals of mourning doves building and raising their young right outside her bathroom window. Her close observations reveal both the intricacies of the doves' nest construction and the tender moments of their familial life.
Kathryn notices a nest being built outside her bathroom window and eagerly observes the progress of the mourning doves' nesting activities.
Last spring, Kathryn's attention was captured by the soft cooing of mourning doves, leading her to discover a nest taking shape on her bathroom windowsill. She was overcome with excitement, eagerly anticipating the chance to watch the doves raise their young.
Kathryn marvels at the doves' skilled construction of the nest, made from various natural materials.
Day after day, Kathryn watched in fascination as the doves skillfully constructed their nest. With each passing day, they added pine needles, bits of hay, and other scraps, intricately weaving them to build up the structure in layers.
The doves become accustomed to Kathryn's presence and continue their work undisturbed.
Initially cautious, the doves gradually grew accustomed to Kathryn's daily observances. She noticed their brief pause and intent gaze with their liquid black eyes when she came into view, but they soon recognized her as no threat and returned to their diligent work.
Kathryn witnesses the doves raising several sets of chicks over the course of the spring and summer.
Throughout the spring and summer, Kathryn had the joy of watching the doves nurture not just one, but two clutches of chicks. The first set of tiny eggs hatched, and she marveled as the fledglings grew and took their inaugural flights. Without missing a beat, the doves prepared for their second brood.
Kathryn reflects on the collective noun for mourning doves, noting ...
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Kathryn's observations and experiences with the mourning doves and their nest
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Counterarguments
- While Kathryn perceives the construction of the nest as skilled, some ornithologists might argue that mourning dove nests are often quite flimsy compared to other bird species.
- The idea that the doves became accustomed to Kathryn's presence is subjective; it's possible they were simply tolerating her presence as a non-threatening part of their environment.
- Observing multiple sets of chicks could be seen as a sign of a healthy dove population, but it could also raise concerns about overpopulation and the impact on local ecosystems.
- The term "a piteousness of mourning doves" is a poetic expression that may capture the essence of the species' mournful call rather than their behavior, and thus might not need to align with Kathryn's observations of joy.
- The nest enduring thro ...
Actionables
- Create a wildlife journal to document and reflect on the natural occurrences you observe from your home, much like a birder's log, to deepen your connection with local wildlife and seasonal changes.
- Keeping a journal encourages mindfulness and a greater appreciation for the subtle changes in nature. You can note the species you see, their behaviors, and how they adapt to the changing seasons. This can be as simple as jotting down notes in a notebook or taking photos to accompany your entries.
- Set up a simple bird feeder or bird bath near a window to attract and observe local bird species and their behaviors.
- By providing a source of food or water, you're likely to attract a variety of birds, not just mourning doves. This can offer you a closer look at bird interactions and an opportunity to learn about different species. Remember to maintain the feeder or bath to keep the birds healthy and coming back. ...
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Kathryn's cat Cinder and Cinder's unique characteristics and behaviors
Kathryn describes her cat Cinder as an exceptional feline, showing not only typical pet behaviors but also acts of caregiving and even matchmaking.
Kathryn describes Cinder as an exceptional cat who acts not just as a pet, but as a caretaker and matchmaker for other animals and people.
Cinder is recognized by Kathryn as an unusually empathetic creature, more akin to an "auntie" in the animal world. Her intuitive understanding of others' feelings is apparent in the way she interacts with both animals and people.
Cinder's intuitive understanding of the doves' situation allows her to coexist peacefully with them, avoiding any disturbance.
Kathryn has noted that Cinder, fully aware of the doves nearby, made a conscious decision to stay away from the window. This behavior was to ensure that the doves did not feel threatened by her presence, exemplifying her extraordinary empathy and understanding.
Cinder's caregiving instincts lead her to connect strays and lonely creatures with human companions who can provide them a loving home.
Far beyond a mere pet, Cinder's ...
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Kathryn's cat Cinder and Cinder's unique characteristics and behaviors
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Counterarguments
- While Cinder's behavior is described as empathetic and caregiving, it's important to note that attributing human emotions and motives to animal behavior can be a form of anthropomorphism, which may not accurately reflect the animal's instinctual responses.
- The interpretation of Cinder's actions as matchmaking could be coincidental or a result of human intervention, rather than the cat's deliberate intent.
- Cinder's avoidance of the window to not disturb the doves could be due to other factors, such as a lack of interest or previous experiences, rather than an understanding of the doves' feelings.
- The idea that Cinder connects strays and lonely creatures with humans could be an overinterpretation of the cat's behavi ...
Actionables
- You can volunteer at a local animal shelter to foster empathy and caregiving skills by spending time with animals in need, learning to read their body language, and providing them with companionship and care.
- Volunteering at an animal shelter can help you develop a deeper understanding of animal behaviors and needs. By interacting with different animals, you'll learn to recognize signs of stress or contentment, which can enhance your empathetic abilities. Additionally, helping to socialize shy or fearful animals can improve your caregiving instincts and may even lead to matching them with suitable adoptive families.
- Start a neighborhood pet-sitting exchange to strengthen community bonds and practice empathy towards animals and their owners.
- Creating a pet-sitting exchange within your community can help you and your neighbors take care of each other's pets when someone is away or busy. This initiative not only provides practical help but also fosters a sense of trust and camaraderie among participants. It encourages you to understand and cater to the diverse needs of different pets, which can be a stepping stone to developing the kind of empathetic and caregiving traits discussed.
- Engag ...
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Kathryn's family history and the practical magic traditions she has inherited from her grandmother
Kathryn fondly recounts her grandmother’s springtime rituals and describes how she continues the practice of practical magic that directly benefits the natural world.
Kathryn fondly recalls her grandmother's springtime rituals of providing nesting materials for returning birds and animals.
Kathryn Nicolai remembers her grandmother gathering nesting materials such as moss and lichen, pine needles, and cobwebs, and spreading them around the garden, the base of her birdbath, and near the black oil sunflower feeder as a spring offering. Her grandmother believed that magic should do something useful or good; otherwise, she didn’t see the point. Kathryn has read in her grandmother's grimoire that a rite or ritual should accomplish something useful or good, or else it wasn't worthwhile, and has adopted this viewpoint.
Her grandmother, a practical woman, cautioned against offering strips of hair from brushes and combs longer than an inch because it could entangle and harm birds. Instead, she advised looking for materials like moss, lichen, pine needles, and, the witchiest of all, cobwebs. Following her grandmother’s footsteps, Kathryn agreed with her grandmother's type of practical magic and began embracing rituals that bring tangible benefits.
Kathryn and Cinder embark on a bike ride to gather natural nesting materials like moss, pine needles, and cobwebs to leave for the birds.
Kathryn, along with her cat Cinder, begins their springtime ritual by collecting cobwebs from indoor ceilings, shaking them out over the back porch, and then embarking on a bike ride. Cinder rides in a specially installed basket, and they head towards the woods to collect materials like pine needles and milkweed fluff.
In the woods, Kathryn gathers moss from a broad patch of mossy stone crop, s ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Kathryn's family history and the practical magic traditions she has inherited from her grandmother
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Kathryn's practices are well-intentioned, there is a risk that non-native or inappropriate materials could inadvertently harm local wildlife or disrupt natural behaviors.
- The belief that magic should do something useful or good is subjective and may not align with other cultural or personal beliefs about the purpose of magic or ritual.
- There is a possibility that human intervention, even with good intentions, might lead to unintended ecological consequences, such as dependency of wildlife on human-provided materials.
- Kathryn's hope that future descendants will continue the tradition assumes that they will share her values and interests, which may not necessarily be the case as each generation develops its own beliefs and practices.
- The idea of practical magic may not be universally accepted as a legitimate form of interaction with the natural world, and some may view it as superstition or folklore rather than a meaningful ecological practice.
- While gathering m ...
Actionables
- You can create a wildlife-friendly compost pile in your backyard to enrich the soil and provide a habitat for beneficial insects. By composting organic kitchen waste like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells, you not only reduce landfill waste but also create a rich environment where insects can thrive, which in turn can become a food source for birds and other wildlife.
- Start a personal journal to document the changes in local wildlife and plant life throughout the seasons. This practice can deepen your connection with nature and increase your awareness of the ecological shifts and needs in your environment. As you observe more, you might discover specific ways to support local wildlife, such as planting native flowers that bloom at different times of the year to provide a continuous source of nectar for bees and butte ...
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