Celebrating Accidental Naturalists.....Everywhere!

     As I've been writing this blog over the last few months, I've come to the realization (based on some of my traffic stats for the site...thanks Google!) that the name of my blog coincides with other blogs and websites out there, written by others who also consider themselves Accidental Naturalists.
   
     As a result, I have decided to change the name of my blog from "The Accidental Naturalist"(since I realize that this can sound presumptive to some) to "Just Another Accidental Naturalist."(fireworks are exploding, confetti is flying, spotlights are beaming....well maybe just in my mind.)

At first,  I kind of liked the name "The Accidental Naturalist" because that is what I consider myself and I honestly thought this made me unique. What I've come to realize is that it doesn't matter whether I or someone else consider himself/herself THE Accidental Naturalist, I think the wonderful thing is that there are many people out there who have discovered and re-kindled their passion for the natural world and want to share that with others in a variety of different ways. I've realized that there are many Accidental Naturalists and we're all just ordinary people who desire to learn more, and even better, who want to share that knowledge with others..AND we may have never expected to be doing this as a career, hobby or whatever.  It is really inspiring and invigorating for me to know that there are many other people out there who are at various points of their naturalist journey. So let's celebrate some of the other accidental naturalists out there:

Maria Mudd Ruth (http://mariaruthbooks.blogspot.com/), an environmental educator and author from Olympis, WA. Maria...you are well ahead of me...starting out as a writer:) I will definitely be checking out some of your books as they sound wonderful.

Stefan Milkowski (http://northernflux.blogspot.com/2007/04/accidental-naturalist.html) , a freelance reporter in Alaska, studying and writing about how climate change is affecting the Last Frontier. If I am ever in Alaska Stefan, I am going to track you down so we can slay some trout together.






Mareth,  who describes herself as "a tour guide, kayaker and sporadic Alaskan" in her blog. http://notesfromanaccidentalnaturalist.blogspot.com/
I've not done much kayaking Mareth, but if I make my way up to the 49th state, my family and I will give you a call.

You see, I am quite certain many of us  never told our parents that we were going to be "naturalists" when we grow up (maybe a lucky few out there did).....but it in the end, it is the path that has pulled-in many of us.  I'm sure that many of you never dreamed that this is the direction that your life might take, but then you open your eyes to those experiences in life that truly stir your soul: fly-fishing in a cool mountain stream and marveling at a mountain sunset that turns rocks wonderful shades of blue and gray and violet...or the sight of a doe and her fawns moving quietly and effortlessly through the leaf litter of an eastern forest....or the sight of a child just looking at something "common" like an acorn or a "sweetgum ball" with complete fascination.  It is in these moments that I have been inspired to learn more about the world around me and to share it with others. It's why I have chosen to become a naturalist....even if accidentally!

Cheers to all of the Accidental Naturalists out there!(did you hear the cork pop...or at least the twist off cap of a bottle of Alaskan Amber?)

With Thankfulness and Appreciation...Greg (Just Another Accidental Naturalist)