Billy's Blog

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 12/3/2019 Bird Nest               I saw a bird flying in and out of a tree. As I walked closer to the tree, I noticed a small nest. The bird had strategically constructed a place to lay its eggs out of small twigs and brush. The small twigs formed a circular home deep enough for the bird to rest in. The bird flapped its wings rapidly with a small stick hanging out of its beak. As the bird neared the nest it released its talons and landed gracefully on the tree. I noticed that the bird used the tree to its advantage for the nest to keep its shape. The bird hopped in and out of the nest carefully aligning each piece of the nest. It was amazing how the small bird created a home piece by piece. It made me realize how we often take our homes for granted. The small bird was perfectly content living in a small nest made from broken branches and leaves.

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 11/12/2019 Ants             I opened my backdoor and stepped outside. The sun was shining and there was a slight breeze. I sat down in my chair and saw a pile of ants scavenging for food. At first, I was startled by the colony of ants, but then I started to observe them. I was amazed by how social the ants were with one another. They moved in choreographed harmony, each helping one another. There is clear intelligence in their simplicity as they coordinate and gather food. They moved like an army carrying small crumbs of food on their armored bodies. For how small the ants were, their bodies were carefully assembled enabling them to carry objects heavier than their body weight. The small colony worked as an efficient team allowing each ant to gather food. I wondered how these ants communicated with another. Humans can gain valuable team building skills watching how ants work to...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 11/15/2019 A Delightful Treat               At the Fort Worth Nature Center, I reached to grab a hammer and was delightfully surprised. To the left of my foot I saw a walnut resting in the dirt. I picked up the walnut and closely examined it. The hard, rugged shell was coated in a thin layer of dirt. I grabbed my hammer and softly tapped the walnut. The hard exterior of the shell wouldn’t crack so with one swift motion I slammed the hammer on the walnut cracking it into two pieces. I grabbed the walnut and could see a heart shaped nut resting on the inside. I scraped out the small nut and tasted it. The walnut had a pleasant, savory flavor and smooth, buttery consistency. Although the walnut would have been better toasted, it was still a delightful treat at the Fort Worth Nature Center.

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 12/16/19 Walking in Nature               As the semester comes to an end I wanted to reflect on my time in Treks and Texts. With the pressure and stress of finals, I thought it would be a good idea to escape from the library and go on a walk. I packed up my backpack, including my phone, and started walking. I had no direction in site, but I wanted to free myself from technology and the other pressures of school by observing nature.               I started walking south of TCU’s campus. It was a rather cool December day in Fort Worth. The cool air blew softly against my face. A graceful, small headed dove glided in the wind and perched itself on a telephone wire foraging for seeds on the ground. I watched the dove as it let out soft drawn out calls in hopes to see neighboring birds. As I neared the dove, he too...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 12/16/19 Snow Shoeing               Late November can bring unpredictable snowstorms in Western Michigan. Lake effect snow occurs when cold a cold air mass moves across long expanses of warmer lake water. Luckily for me, my house borders the southern tip of Lake Michigan which is perfect for large amounts of lake effect snow.               Every year my mom and I snowshoe on the beach of Lake Michigan. This year we woke up early as the sun was rising to experience the first snow fall. When I woke up a thick blanket of snow covered the ground. Large snowflakes sparkled in the distance as I stared down the coastline. Frozen waves laid motionless forming ice caves along the beach. The snowshoes allowed us to float on top of the soft snow instead of sinking into the powder. My dog, Kane, ran fearlessly through the...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 11/19/2019 Coyote               On a crisp afternoon in Chicago, I decided to take my dog Kane for a walk. Very enthusiastically I said, “do you want…”, and before I could finish my sentence his ears lit up and he was ready to go. I didn’t have a specific route in mind for our walk, but I wanted to pay close attention to everything around us. The trees swayed in the wind as their florescent orange and red leaves fell from the branches. You could hear a woodpecker in the distance fighting furiously to break through the wood. Every step I took dead leaves crunched beneath my feet. It’s the end of fall and the air is colder than an ice cube, as it climbs through my jacket to the bottom of my spine. As the leaves continued to fall, the sight of everything living came to an end. The sun slowly set, and the birds have ceased. The dreary fall day in Chicago has left me tired, ...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 12/10/15 Ice Fishing               Winters up north bring a variety of things to do for outdoorsman. Cold weather brings unpredictable elements that can test you mentally and physically. If you are up for a challenge, ice fishing is one of the most rewarding things you can do in the outdoors.               Every winter I drive up to northern Wisconsin hoping to catch some fish. Frozen lakes bring cold winds, snow, and thousands of fishermen across the country. When I got to the lake, I gathered my gear and began my hike across the frozen lake. The wind swirled across the frozen water piercing my skin every step I took. The bright white ice appeared as a never-ending sheet of crystal that gleamed like a diamond.   Snow fell from the trees like fairy dust sparkling across the sky.    ...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 12/4/19 Pond Hockey               I stepped outside into a winter wonderland. A blanket of sparkling white snow glistened over Chicago. Every step I took I could hear the soft snow crunching beneath my boots. The cold air pierced my skin turning my face into a florescent bright red. Although many people try and avoid Chicago’s frigid winters, the freezing temperatures bring some of my favorite activities.               My friends and I get excited for the winter weather. The cold air freezes the local ponds creating a perfect environment for pond hockey. I threw on my warmest clothes, picked up my friends, and headed to the local lake.                   When we got to the lake, the ice was covered in a thick blanket of snow. It look...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams 12/4/19 Duck Hunt               The first week of November is always an exciting time for my friends and I. Colder weather brings the migration of ducks across the country. The weather forecast called for cold weather and steady winds, so my friend and I decided to head out at 4:00am one morning in hopes to see some ducks.               We started our adventure early in the morning sipping hot coffee and telling some of our favorite hunting stories. The hour and a half drive passed quickly as we were both excited for our first hunt of the season. We parked our car on a gravel road alongside the Brazos river. Unexpectedly, the sky was lit up by a full moon and shooting stars sparkled across the sky. I got out of the car and was immediately hit by the below freezing temperatures. Every breath I took you could see ...

Billy Petersen Professor Williams Nature Journal 12/4/19 Canoe Trip               It’s a gloomy fall day in Fort Worth, Texas. The leaves are changing, the wind is blowing, and wildlife is active in the beautiful Fort Worth Nature Center. As I drive down the winding roads of the Nature Center, I see Buffalo grazing through the field and deer hiding in the forest. A small fawn is sheltered behind a doe as he tries to keep up with the moving group of deer. When I get out of my car, I am immediately greeted by the cold breeze as it presses against my face. Our class begins to load our canoes into the water and head upstream on the Trinity River. As we move through the river, we spook a large flock of “coots” as they scattered across the river. They don’t fly high into the trees, they stay inches above the water flapping their wings as if they are running across the river. Small fish jump along the river bank f...