6 Prompts for Studying Nature at Home

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Many of us now find ourselves under shelter-in-place orders, which means we’re practically stuck at home. Our schedules have changed entirely, and we are likely unable to participate in some of our favorite activities. In the midst of mass cancellations and social isolation, I am comforted in knowing that nature isn’t cancelled. Although outdoor exercise is under the list of “essential activities,” it can be more comfortable for many of us to simply stay at home. So, as we are all at home for the time being, I thought I would share some ideas that might help you keep your inner naturalist working. Here are several nature study activities you can do from the comfort of your own home.

Go backyard birdwatching. This is one of my favorite things to do when I have a free morning (and right now, that’s every morning!). Whether you have a bird feeder or not, you are bound to see at least a few birds in your backyard. Here, you can practice your identification skills by observing both physical and audible aspects of your feathered friends. You can sketch the birds and photograph them, and you can study their songs and calls. I like to use phone apps like the Audubon Bird Guide and eBird to keep track of the birds I see. The eBird app is especially cool, because real scientists use the information that observers submit to study bird populations. Becoming better acquainted with the birds that frequently visit your backyard is a real treat!

Do a backyard plant study. Speaking of backyards, plants can be an interesting topic to study. Now that it’s spring, many plants are becoming even more exciting than usual, as they’re bursting into bloom, revealing incredible colors, patterns, and scents. Recently, I’ve been trying to spend time in my nature journal observing the plants in my own backyard, and so far I’ve had a blast

getting to know our lemon tree and our lavender plant. I feel that I know them both so much better after a few hours of careful observation. For plant-by-plant study, I suggest starting with the big-picture then moving down to the details. When I journaled the lavender plant, for instance, I drew the plant from a distance so I could include the stems, leaves, and flowers, then I moved in to observe a cluster, then even closer to observe a single flower. However, you could go any direction with these plant studies, from purely identifying your yard plants to closely observing the flower of a single plant. It’s up to you! Explore whatever piques your curiosity.

Study clouds and weather. The entire planet, from the quiet country to the busy city, has at least one aspect of nature in common: the sky. Clouds are often indicators of changes in the atmosphere and in the weather. You can practice identifying different types of clouds and looking into how they form and what makes them different, or explore how different cloud types can tell you about the weather, or anything else that you might be curious about. This is also a great way to practice drawing or painting clouds in your journal.

Track a cycle. Because we will likely be in one place for a while, it’s a great time to observe cyclical events, such as the blooming of a flower or the stages of the moon. To do this, you can choose a subject and set aside time to observe it once a day, once a week, or any other regular time period that works for you. You can keep your observations in your journal, to help you keep track of and learn from your observations. After a month or so (or however long you choose to track your subject), you’ll likely have a bunch of journal pages filled with observations, questions, and sketches.

Explore your nature collection.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a few (maybe more than a few) special nature-finds lying around the house. I love having a few feathers or seashells on my desk to brighten the area. This extra time at home could be a good opportunity to explore your collection in more detail, maybe by dedicating a journal page to sketching and taking notes on the different objects. A while ago, I made this journal entry of my collection. Although I would do it differently now, I thought this could be a helpful example.

Join a sketching challenge. If you’re looking for motivation to just keep sketching, you could consider joining (or creating!) a sketching challenge to hold you accountable. A member of the Nature Journal Club recently created a very applicable challenge called CORVID-19, in which they sketch and study nineteen different species of corvids (crows, magpies, jays, etc.) in their journal. I’m considering joining in on this one! These sorts of challenges are a great way to not only practice and improve your drawing skills, but also to form new habits and learn new things.

The natural world is an incredible gift, especially in times like these. I hope you find comfort in exploring the nature that surrounds you, whether that is limited to the sky above or as diverse as an entire forest, and that this list can give you just a bit more motivation or inspiration to continue exploring.