Natural History Wanderings

Cover of The Sense of Wonder

Updated 5/31/11

Rachel Carson would have been 114 years old today.  She was born in 1907 and died in 1964.  Rachel Carson was a writer, scientist and ecologist.  She is the founder of the modern environmental movement for her work in identifying the dangers of pesticides such as DDT.

To celebrate her birthday I read her book, The Sense of Wonder.  It is about bringing nature to her young grandnephew.  She focuses on experiencing nature and not naming species.  She puts the emphasis on observing nature with all the senses.  The book has excellent photographs by  well-known nature and landscape photographer, William Neill that accompany the text.

Audubon is also acknowledging Rachel’s Birthday and providing a list of books about her life at:  Happy Birthday, Rachel Carson! Your Legend Lives on in Today’s “Women in Conservation”

To learn more about Rachel Carson go: The LIfe and Legacy of Rachel Carson

Audubon gave actress Sigourney Weaver the Audubon Rachel Carson Award.  You can see her acceptance speech at: http://www.audublog.org/?p=5515