Haikus for Nature X
October 2025 (I was in Greece and Egypt during October so my photos, and haikus reflect that).
Following are the haikus I have written in October as part of my ‘What’s Your 60?’ challenge. I have committed to complete the following challenges in 2025 to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA):
Write 60 nature-based haikus
Submit 60 new observations to iNaturalist
Walk Outdoors 60 km/month
If you wish to sponsor my efforts you can make a tax-deductible donation to Alberta Wilderness Association.
Splendid Shade
Trees of Knossos
Glorious, and very grand
Shade ancient ruins
They also shaded me several times, as I took a break from viewing relics, to cool myself beneath their spreading boughs. 🌳
Water and Sun
Sunrise over sea
Glistening in shades of gold
Reflection of time
Covert Messages
Majestic pine trees
Rustling with soft ‘oops’ and croaks
- Calls for Apollo!
If you wish to hear these hoopoes in the pine trees of Ancient Corinth (near the Temple of Apollo) you can watch my short on YouTube here. Happily identified as the Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops) on my iNaturalist page.
“At the Old Kingdom, the hoopoe was used in the iconography as a symbolic code to indicate the child was the heir and successor of his father.[1] They achieved a similar standing in Minoan Crete.”[2]
“,,,it was also named the wisest bird in the world by the Persian poet Attar of Nishapur in his 1177 epic, The Conference of the Birds.”
These birds seem almost magical in their plumage, with their wonderful calls, and from their esteem - acknowledged throughout history.
The Black Nile
Night on the River
Black as the Darkest Raven
Nile, bringer of life
As seen from the desert road between Siwa and Marsa Matrouh.
Human Waste
Deserts, full of life
Becoming trashcans like the
oceans of the world.
Regarding the above haiku - it reminded me to look back at the Earth Day message by Dr. Jane Goodall, may she Rest In Peace. [4]
“So people ask me if I really have hope for our future. Well, I do believe there’s a window of time when we can at least slow down climate change and loss of biodiversity, but only if we get together and take action now. And without hope, we will fall into apathy and do nothing.”
I hope her messages continue to inspire everyone to take the action needed to protect our wildlife, and our ecosystems. We all need to do better!
[1] From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoopoe - quoting Marshall, Amandine (2015) "The child and the hoopoe in ancient Egypt". KMT. 72 (26.1): 59–63.
[2] Ibid - Fry, Hilary C. (2003) "Hoopoe". In Christopher Perrins (ed.). Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books. pp. 382. ISBN 1-55297-777-3.
[3] Crew, Bec (2015) The Hoopoe: Emissary of Kings, Secreter of Stink. Audubon Magazine - The Sketch. Published online June 19, 2015. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/hoopoe-emissary-kings-secreter-stink
[4] Dr. Jane Goodall passed away on October 1, at the age of 91 - still carrying on her work to protect wildlife. You can see her complete 2025 Earth Day message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhrNZlasQJY
October walk challenge - 190 km Total to date - 980.3/720 km
October iNaturalist posts - 19 Total to date - 114/60
🔗September Haikus for Nature IX
🔗August Haikus for Nature VIII
🔗July Haikus for Nature VII
🔗June Haikus for Nature VI
🔗May Haikus for Nature V
🔗April Haikus for Nature IV
🔗March Haikus for Nature III
🔗February Haikus for Nature II
🔗January Haikus for Nature
As always, feel free to leave (polite) comments below.
