Outdoor Humans: August 2024, Summer Wind Down Edition 🌻
Pour one out for summer. But like, outside in the grass.
In this month’s issue:
An ode to reading outdoors (and why it’s good for your brain!)
A foraging find that will have you surveying the ground for gold
How you can help migrating birds with one easy flick of a switch
A little insight into the unexpected way bats make baby bats
Plus a few other nature notes.
Hello, friends!
Despite having more than a month of summer left, I can’t help but feel the season’s golden days are drawing to a close. The back-to-school sales are in full swing, the daylight hours are starting to feel slightly shorter compared to two months ago, and everyone — including me —seems to be squeezing in one last summer trip. (More on my most recent national park adventure in next month’s issue!)
These past two summers, I’ve moved toward spending August offline. It’s a quest somewhat inspired by the lucky Europeans who take the month off work, combined with wanting to slow down and appreciate summer before autumn takes its place. I don’t necessarily have big plans for the month, but I look forward to some leisurely reading outside, nights spent around a back-porch fire pit, and a break from the constant go that operates at full speed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In some ways, offline August is something of mindfulness practice; a small yet purposeful way to enjoy a few more sun-kissed days without the buzz of Instagram notifications.
The ideas in this month’s issue of Outdoor Humans come from that same perspective. Keep reading for a few easy peasy ways to connect with nature without any gear, major plans, or honestly, much effort. I hope they spur some outdoor inspiration during these last lazy, hazy summer days.
This month, outdoors
A few ideas of how you can enjoy what nature has scheduled for August
🍄 There’s Gold In Them Thar Woods
Morels are the it girl of mushrooms. I have yet to meet a mushroom hunter who hasn’t chased these elusive shrooms and to be honest, even I get caught up in the springtime scramble to find these woodland morsels. But you know, there are other edible mushrooms to forage throughout the year. I traipsed into the woods on the last day of July to hunt for chanterelles (Cantharellus, various species) — a golden yellow, trumpet-shaped mushroom commonly found from late summer through October. I wasn’t expecting to harvest many or experience the same level of excitement as when I find morels, but let me tell you… these gorgeous mushrooms put off some BFE (that’s Big Fungi Energy, y’all). Looking in the right spots revealed dozens upon dozens of chanterelles in a short time; within an hour, I experienced something of an edible gold rush mania that filled my basket with four pounds (!!!) of mushrooms and left me eager to hunt for more in coming weeks.
Fun fact: Chanterelle mushrooms get their name from the Greek kantharos — an ancient, two-handled cup used for wine.
When to hunt: May through October, but particularly late summer
Is it humid where you are? Perfect. Because chanterelles love a hot and steamy environment, often appearing a few days after a decent summer rain. The season is long and can begin as early as May, though it seems that harvesting odds increase throughout the summer season.
Where to look: In the woods
Chanterelles often spring up from the ground in wooded areas that have some level of ground moisture. These mushrooms never grow on trees or downed, decaying wood. Groups of chanterelles tend to appear in a scattered trail. Like an 1840s gold panhandler, I called this a “vein” and would walk along this spontaneous path, picking as I went.
Foraging notes you should know: Color variations and unfriendly look-alikes
Chanterelles are typically identifiable by their bright yellow hue, though some varieties like the cinnabar-red (Cantharellus cinnabarinus) are a reddish-pink. The few I found were much smaller than their yellow counterparts but still edible. Chanterelles also have a few identifiable features such as their fluted and irregular caps (no two look the same), a lack of gills, and a solid, white core when cut down the middle. These are important features to note because they separate chanterelles from Jack-o’-Lanterns (Omphalotus illudens), a similar-looking yet poisonous fungi.
How to eat them: Sautéd in butter
My mom, LaDonna, acted as my mushrooming guide for our chanterelle adventure, though her advice didn’t stop when our baskets were full. After showing me how she identified and cleaned her own chanterelle harvest, she experimented with two of the most common mushroom cooking methods: deep-frying and sautéing. Despite our love for deep-fried mushrooms, a taste test revealed that battering and frying chanterelles left them strangely flavorless and floppy. However, sautéing these golden gems with a pat of butter was the perfect way to add them to our plates. I’m looking forward to a long mushrooming season that lets me top steaks, chicken, and other dinner delights with a heavy hand of chanterelles.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional mycologist, mushroomer, or chef. While I aim to present the most factual and accurate information (to my knowledge) about in-season mushrooms, I highly recommend deferring to the actual mushrooming experts when it comes to safely identifying, harvesting, preparing, and consuming any wild mushrooms. If you’re ever unsure about a mushroom you’ve collected, toss it — take your joy from the hunt and a bit of time spent outdoors, and try again with the help of a professional. Getting sick or meeting the Dirt Man is never worth it.
📚Join Nature’s Reading Club
I love the idea of forest bathing, though it’s not something I’m particularly good at. Like any other meditative experience, forest bathing requires you to sit quietly and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature without ruminating on your current work project, never-ending list of mom tasks, or the whole state of the world (is it just me or are things particularly not great right now?). Meditation would definitely benefit my racing mind, but to be honest I’m just not ready to take it on. Instead, I’ve found a helpful alternative: outdoor reading.
I know this sounds incredibly basic, but hear me out: planting my camp chair along the tree line of my yard, in the middle of the woods, in a park, or on my back deck has helped me spend more time outdoors while also reaching my summer reading goal. I don’t just recommend it because it’s enjoyable — there’s a scientific basis for doing so. Just a few minutes snuggled up with a good book can reduce stress by a whopping 68% (the caveat here is that it should be leisurely, enjoyable reading, not a forced slog through War and Peace or the Times’ politics section). Research also shows that spending merely 20 minutes outdoors sitting in any green space can dramatically reduce cortisol levels.
You see where I’m going with this, right? Pairing reading and nature is a magical stressbuster that costs nothing… unless you’re counting the monthly fee for a Kindle Unlimited subscription. But just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s boring. Call me bougie, but I nerd out a little about my outdoor reading setup:
Comfy camp chair set up in a shaded spot a great view (or patio furniture, if I’m sticking close to home). I rotate spots based on season, time of day, and how mentally overstimulated or distracted I may be.
A tumbler filled with 30 ounces of refreshingly cold water. I’m currently obsessed with the pomegranate-cranberry water add-in from Stur (no sponsorship, just sharing a personal like).
Snacks. I may have been influenced to buy one of those dumb silicone snack trays that sit upon a particularly popular metal tumbler. It’s absolutely one of my favorite things, but then again, I’m a woman who has snacks on the brain 99% of the time. You cannot shame me for this.
A Kindle Paperwhite. After years of resisting an e-reader, I finally caved thanks to a series of historical time-traveling novels set in 18th-century Scotland (IYKYK). Each book has no fewer than 800 pages, and lugging those around was a workout. While I’m not advocating for impulse consumerism, I will say having an e-reader has made outdoor page-turning more comfortable because I can adjust the screen based on lighting. (Staring at white book pages outdoors has always felt blinding.) It’s also been great for reading fireside at camp.
It ain’t much… or maybe it’s a bit excessive? Find what makes you comfortable and start logging pages and minutes outdoors. Although if you, too, are a bougie outdoor reader, let me know in the comments what your setup looks like. Ridiculous? Maybe. It’s no Pizza Hut personal pan pizza, but it’s the best I’ve got.
🕯Take the Pledge to Help Flying Friends
Billions of birds are preparing for (and even already embarking on) their cool-weather exits. Isn’t it intriguing how many migratory birds seem to quietly disappear as summer fades away? Turns out most of us humans tend to miss these massive avian departures because they typically happen at night. According to the Audubon Society, 70% of terrestrial recurring birds (aka birds that spend much of their time nesting or foraging on the ground) in North America are migratory, and 80% of them travel after dark.
While there’s still much to learn about why birds take off after sunset, researchers have a few decent explanations:
The atmosphere is more stable after dark, making it easier for birds to chart a smooth and steady course — especially smaller species that move more slowly
Darkness shields vulnerable birds from predators and provides a safer voyage
Cool nighttime temperatures keep these hardworking birds from overheating
Most importantly, birds rely on the stars and moon as GPS, helping them navigate to their warmer destinations
Unfortunately, we humans and our penchant for artificial outdoor lighting can throw off those avian navigation systems. Light pollution can confuse migrating birds, causing them to stray off course and even collide with buildings and structures; some birds become so disoriented they exhaust themselves to death trying to get back on track. To combat this problem, organizations like the Audubon Society and DarkSky International promote the Lights Out Program, which encourages building owners to reduce light pollution, though you don’t have to be a real estate mogul with a flair for excessive lighting to take part. Simply turning off or dimming exterior lights on your home or business between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during migration seasons can support traveling birds. When should you start?
Fall migration begins August 15 and ends November 30
Spring migration runs from March 1 to June 15
While flipping the switch on your porch lights might seem pretty minor, it’s a small move that can support birds in a big way. A 2019 study revealed North America’s avian populations have declined by nearly 3 billion birds over the last 50 years — an extensive loss that particularly affects many backyard feeder species like Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-winged Blackbirds, and other songbirds. Light-reducing efforts give birds a fighting chance at departing and returning safely, and may be one tool at combating that population slump.
Arrivals, departures, and other nature notes
There’s romance in the air… for bats. Late summer to early fall signals mating season for some of the sky’s fearless flyers. Species like the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) swarm the entrances of their hibernation caves to mating profusely. However, there’s a bit of a wait until pups are born. Female bats experience delayed fertilization, which is pretty much what it sounds like. Despite mating now, female bats hold onto that *ahem* genetic material for several months, waiting to ovulate and become pregnant in the springtime.
The summer hummingbird party is drawing to a close. Some hummingbird species are beginning their southern migrations this month. Ruby-throated hummingbirds travel up to 2,000 miles; covering that distance means getting started before summer fades away. Adult males typically head out first, packing up in late July and early August, with females following later this month and into September. Unlike other bird species, tiny hummers don’t migrate in flocks, instead opting to make their trip solo. Amazingly, even the youngsters know where to go, using the same routes their parents, grandparents, and other avian ancestors have used.
But not all bird species are on the move just yet. Indigo buntings — blue-hued birds found widely throughout the U.S. this time of year — are building their last nests of the year. This widespread bird species is fun to spot, though you’re lucky if you catch a glimpse of their well-hidden nests. Females rapidly construct them low to the ground in brushy areas; after about two days of building, they lay a clutch of three to four white eggs that incubate for about 12 days. These end-of-summer babies are fast growers, leaving the nest just two weeks after hatching and in time for their fall migration to Central America.
Celebrate honey bees on this sweet holiday. The third Saturday in August (17th) marks National Honey Bee Day. Western honey bees, aka Apis mellifera, were domesticated thousands of years ago, and are found on every continent excluding Antarctica. The relationship between humans and bees is beautifully complex; they’re the subject of our fears and superstitions, creators of natural sweeteners, and responsible for pollinating the crops that feed us. Give them some kudos on National Honey Bee Day (might I suggest listening for a busy hive on your next outdoor adventure?).
Nature in the news
A few recommendations of things I’ve read, watched, or listened to this month
[Read] “Streetlights are influencing nature—from how leaves grow to how insects eat” from National Geographic
I mentioned above how artificial lighting can affect migratory birds, though that’s not its only impact. Some research shows that street lights can affect all kinds of insect and animal species, along with the plants that sustain them.
[Read] “How time in nature builds happier, healthier and more social children” from The Washington Post
In honor of back-to-school season, I thought I’d share a bit of light reading about yet another thing we burnt-out, overly stressed Millennial parents should be prioritizing: sending kids outdoors more frequently, regardless of where you live. Turns out, time playing outdoors anywhere boosts kids’ cognitive skills, self-esteem, and mood, alongside some other perks. (In case any mom and dad readers out there haven’t heard this today: Raising kids is hard. You’re doing your best. Keep up the good work!)
Shameless plugs for my work around the web
Have you ever eaten a black currant? I haven’t, and neither have most Americans. These berries are immensely popular in Europe, though 20th-century timber titans succeeded in banning the plants in the U.S. to prevent a cross-species fungus that kills pine trees. You can read more about this in-season fruit and its slow comeback over at Interesting Facts.
That’s it for this month’s edition of Outdoor Humans. Enjoy the end of summer, and we’ll chat again in September.
Thanks for reading, but more importantly: go get outside!
Nicole Garner Meeker