Grounding

Day 27: Grounding

Welsh translation: Daearu

“I am a South London born and raised wildlife enthusiast who currently works in a nature reserve as a ranger. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination of other living things around me. Since completing my degree in Zoology, I have taken part in many wildlife projects abroad and in the UK which led to my particular interest in birds. In 2023 I started an Instagram @outsidewithlira to teach urban communities about birds and other wildlife around them. Birding has helped me through tough times, and I want others to experience the benefits too.

Birds are so underrated and they are everywhere, whether you are in the countryside or in the city like me! Before i took up birding in 2020, I could only recognise Pigeons and the Robin and had no idea that there were hundreds of different birds living around the city. Taking notice of birds made me notice other wildlife and became an escape for me. Birding allows me to focus on something, leaving little room in my mind for negative thoughts. Watching birds soon became less about the science and more about how it made me feel. I want others to experience the joy and mental health benefits of birding. Its free, easy and anybody can do it!”

To find out more about Outside with Lira visit: https://64millionartists.com/lira-valencia/

“Rwy’n un a gafodd ei geni a’i magu yn Ne Llundain ac sydd yn gwirioni efo bywyd gwyllt, ac sydd ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio fel warden mewn gwarchodfa natur. Cyn belled a allaf gofio rwyf wedi cael fy nenu gan bethau byw eraill o fy nghwmpas. Ers gorffen fy ngradd mewn Sŵoleg rwyf wedi bod yn rhan o sawl prosiect bywyd gwyllt dramor ac ym Mhrydain, a hynny wedi arwain at fy niddordeb arbennig mewn adar. Yn 2023 dechreuais gyfrif Instagram @outsidewithlira i ddysgu cymunedau trefol am adar a mathau eraill o fywyd gwyllt o’u hamgylch. Mae adara wedi bod o gymorth i mi oresgyn adegau anodd, ac rwyf yn awyddus i eraill brofi’r un budd.”

https://64millionartists.com/lira-valencia/

Do

Step outside or open a window. Listen out for birdsong.

What can you hear? Is there a bird song you can recognise?
If so, do you know the name of the bird? If you don’t recognise any bird songs that’s ok! Look out for the birds who are singing and make a connection between their appearance and the sounds they make.

If you don’t hear birdsong, imagine a bird and the vibrations it creates with its voice.

Capture the bird on paper. Draw, paint or collage your image.
How big is it? What colour are its feathers? What is its name?

Gwrandewch ar gân yr adar. Ewch tu allan neu agorwch y ffenest. Yr amser goraf i wrando ar gân yr adar yw yn y bore.

Beth allwch chi ei glywed? Oes yna gân adar rydych yn ei hadnabod? Os oes, wyddoch chi enw’r aderyn? Os nad ydych chi’n adnabod cân unrhyw aderyn mae hynny’n berffaith iawn!

Os nad ydych yn clywed aderyn dychmygwch aderyn a’r dirgryniad mae’n wneud â’i lais.

Beth am gyfleu’r aderyn ar ddarn o bapur, trwy ei ddarlunio, ei beintio neu trwy wneud collage. Pa mor fawr ydi o? Pa liw yw ei blu?

Think

Think about how these sounds make you feel. Relaxed? Excited? Nostalgic? Do they remind you of a particular time of year? Think of a fun way to remember the bird song. For example, the common garden bird Great Tit makes a song that sounds like ‘teacher-teacher-teacher’ whilst the Green woodpecker can only be described, to me, as a witch-like cackle. Can you learn a bird song to recognise in the future?

Meddyliwch sut mae’r synau hyn yn gwneud i chi deimlo. Wedi ymlacio? Wedi cynhyrfu? Hiraethus? Ydyn nhw’n eich atgoffa o rhyw adeg arbennig o’r flwyddyn? Meddyliwch am ffordd hwyliog o gofio cân yr aderyn. Er enghraifft mae cân y Titw Tomos Las yn swnio fel “sispi si-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi”, ac i mi alla i ond disgrifio’r Gnoncell Werdd fel gwrach yn chwerthin. Ydi o’n bosib i chi ddysgu cân aderyn er mwyn ei hadnabod yn y dyfodol?

Share

You can share today’s journey with creativity on social media by tagging us or using the hashtag #TheJanuaryChallenge
Encourage your friends and family to join in to take the conversation further!
Read our top tips for accessible sharing on social media.

Rhannwch eich campau creadigol gyda ni ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol trwy ein tagio neu ddefnyddio’r hashnod #HerIonawr

Beth am annog ffrindiau a theulu i ymuno fel gall y sgwrs fynd ymhellach!

Darllenwch ein hawgrymiadau gwych er mwyn rhannu mewn modd hygyrch.