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An Organic Orchard’s Symphony and Epiphany
by Sue Chen
Since embarking on the transition to organic in 2019, I have witnessed a transformation that only Mother Nature can orchestrate. Every day, every season, and every year, the eco-system seems to be communicating and connecting in beautiful purposeful alignment… like a brilliant symphony.
While there are many expressions of this brilliant symphony, a stand out performance comes from the birds. Since the transition to organic, there is a remarkable increase in bird activity on my farm. This harmonious shift is not only obvious, but so glorious and joyful. Everyday, birds seem to be everywhere and especially in the hazelnut orchard. They are abundantly foraging on the orchard floor, frolicking in the trees, and amplifying a perfect ensemble of songs and sounds. Walking in my orchard can feel like a scene from a Disney animated movie. What may seem surreal or fantasy is my reality.
Perhaps the most prevalent and commanding bird on the orchard is the American Robin. There are so many Robins on the orchard that you can entertain yourself just watching them hop around and pulling out worm after worm. Though dominant and entertaining, there are so many more species of birds… I can see and hear them. On a nature podcast, I heard about the Merlin Bird ID App from The Cornell Lab that could identify bird species based on photos and sounds. So, on a winter day, the last day of the 2023, I gave the Merlin App a try. As I pressed SOUND ID on the app and my phone listened, the bird species ID started to populate… and populate. It was so exhilarating to see and hear the birds. In total, 16 unique species. The bird ensemble in my Nature’s Symphony was even more spectacular than I imagined.
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