Nature Blog Network

Our featured blog this week is The Hawk Owl’s Nest (http://www.hawkowlsnest.com). Meet Patrick Belardo, a blogger who is also a volunteer naturalist for the NJ Audubon Society. Patrick blogs mostly about birds, but also spends time staring at insects and plants. He and his wife live in central NJ and are expecting their first child in September.

Patrick, thanks for talking with us. Tell us a little about why you blog and what it was that got you started.

I started blogging in April 2006. I was inspired by many of the other nature blogs, specifically the bird blogs. My original goal was just to share my love of birding and nature with others and to be more involved in the birding community, learning more and more along the way. It’s turned into much more.

I’ve most enjoyed the people I’ve met through blogging. I have met in person several bloggers from other states and other countries and have found them all to be great company. When I started the blog, I never thought I’d end up hiking a NY mountain to view Bicknell’s Thrush with other bloggers or having dinner with a fellow blogger and his family in Oregon. The bird blog world has become a community that I want to stay engaged in and I actually feel like I’m missing out on something when I’m having a “slow period” on my blog.

Blogging also gives me an outlet to help feel like I’m contributing to the birding community in some way – even if it’s minimal. It helps motivate me to go birding, to research new birding finds, to stay abreast of the latest developments, and to help with conservation. My desire to stay involved with these things helps keep me engaged in my blogging.

Finally, one of the reasons I started the blog was to learn – both from others and by writing and researching my posts. This has really worked for me and continues to work for me. Many of my posts require research that helps me to learn new natural history information while writing.

What’s unique or different about your blog?

I’m the only blog called “The Hawk Owl’s Nest” (for now). I try to give a mixed perspective of local birding and nature-related information blended with information on the places I’ve been lucky to travel to. Most importantly, I like to do it all with a sense of humor which I think (hope) helps bring the readers back.

How do you promote your blog and attract readers?

In addition to the Nature Blog Network, I’m part of the Facebook Blog Network. I haven’t spent a lot of time playing with the other social networking tools, but it’s something I plan to do more of in the near future. When the web first came around, I always considered myself an “early adopter” of technology. Somewhere along the way, that shifted!

Has blogging changed how you think and write about nature?

I probably wouldn’t be writing anything if I didn’t have my blog. I always wanted to do a nature journal, but I couldn’t get motivated to do it. The blog makes it easy. I definitely look at nature differently. I look at everything as a potential blog topic. For example, an insect on a flower can turn into a post about macro photography, insect-plant relationships, or the insect’s life history.

Any comments on being part of the nature blogger community?

I’m always amazed at other people’s interests and the things they blog about. From mushroom bloggers to mollusk bloggers, it’s great to be in the company of such passionate people.

Any words of wisdom for new nature bloggers?

Blog often! Get out there and meet other bloggers too.

Thanks, Patrick. One final question: Is it true you’re naming your first hatchling “Ivory” after your favorite gull?

Seriously, congratulations to you and your wife. We’re looking forward to meeting the next generation of bird bloggers.

Upcoming featured blogs include Ugly Overload and Drawing the Motmot.