rip·ple ef·fect
the continuing and spreading results of an event or action
Kayaking in and around our beautiful waterways affords a unique perspective. It’s a peaceful way to experience nature up close and personal. Sitting low atop the water, navigating through narrow fingers, you really feel connected to your surroundings.
Paddling around the refuge recently gave me pause for thought: Amidst all of the raw beauty on Earth, amidst the incredible biodiversity and intricate interconnectedness of all of its life systems, it’s apparent we’ve been given both a wonderful gift as well as a great responsibility. This planet is truly amazing, and it’s counting on us to do our part.
Our beautiful planet as seen from space “Blue marble” NASA jpeg
One of our favorite launch sites is a place we call “lily pads” – its official name is Lotus Garden Park – but “lily pads” has stuck with us simply because this waterway contains a proliferation of, well, you guessed it, lily pads.
Yellow lotus photo by Mary Reid Barrow
At various times throughout the year, it’s quite a sight to see. When the lilies are in full bloom, a blanket of buttery yellow lotus flowers sits high atop skinny stalks, surrounded by large, disk-shaped leaves of green. The pop of yellow against soothing shades of green serves up a delicious feast for the eyes.
This particular day, the flowers had yet to bloom. Instead, what caught my eye was a mother mallard duck with her babies in tow, skimming silently along the surface – a classic spring vignette; a simple, sweet story in need of no words. I eagerly made my way towards them, intent on taking a closer look.
I watched as the strokes from my paddle displaced pockets of water, swirling off into eddies and setting ripples in motion. The bands of water emanated outward, hands reaching for something just beyond grasp. Traveling farther and farther, they journeyed on, never really ending, just expanding and exploring their liquid borders.
Kayaking through flat water on calm days allows for some pretty precise maneuvers. I managed to sidle up quite close to the raft of ducks, mindful of giving them a wide berth. Thanks to my proximity, I was rewarded with a glimpse of the fuzzy down still donned by some of the youngsters.
Downy duckling photo by Malinda Garner, Ducks Unlimited
I noticed that as they swam, the ducklings formed a living, moving appendage, clinging closely to their mother’s side. They were stuck tight to her as Velcro, even as she changed direction on a dime.
Mallard and babies photo by Manyee Desandies
One duckling, however, deviated from the rest of the group, causing a ripple effect. The next closest duckling followed suit. It wobbled a hair, then so did the one next to it, and so on, and so forth, until all of the ducklings had ditched their directions and careened off course.
The mother’s soft yet chastising chortles quickly coaxed the wayward wanderers back into the fold. Having heard her voice as far back as they could remember, they were quite familiar with her repertoire of calls, and this one quite clearly told them that she meant business!
Quick as a wink, the formation was fixed, mom managed to get her ducks back in a row, and soon each little offspring had successfully synchronized its swimming to match the rest of the group.
“Ripple effects” – a series of things that happen as a result of a particular action or event. I thought, we’re not so different from the ducks. Our actions have ripple effects, too. What’s cool is when one person’s positive act radiates out and inspires others to keep the ripple going.
Think of it as doing “the wave” at a ball game; if only one or two people stand and raise their arms, it’s a bust. But when section after section commits to it, it’s quite a sight to see. Sometimes, seemingly small actions can have large effects.
Environmentally-conscious people know that adjusting our habits at the micro level can lead to positive changes at the macro level. Some fairly small changes have the potential to yield big results, especially when we all commit.
For instance, limiting our use of disposable products and disposing of our waste in a responsible manner ultimately leads to less waste in our landfills and less pollution in our waters. Less contamination in our food chain helps re-establish healthy aquatic ecosystems and benefits us as consumers.
Largemouth bass caught (and released) by Shawn McMahon
When we realize we’re all connected, that we’ve all been given a precious gift to steward- namely, this planet and all that’s in it – we begin to appreciate our unique roles and responsibilities better.
Educating ourselves and others is an important first step. The other night, we watched a good documentary on climate change presented by National Geographic. In Before the Flood, sobering statistics with far-reaching ramifications were shared.
As made clear in the film, it’s not as though there’s a lack of information out there about our global impact; the challenge instead lies in getting the message out in a fresh and relevant way without it sounding like a broken record. Time is of the essence now more than ever.
The good news is more and more people are being educated and taking action. Our children and grandchildren are being taught about global challenges and their collective role as helpers. Kids can really get behind a cause when they see how their actions directly affect animals and ecosystems, as well as people.
As a matter of fact, children can often be the best “enforcers” of practicing good habits. They have a way of being heard! As my great-nephew tells anyone within earshot, “Don’t use plastic straws! They’ll kill the turtles!”
#skipthestraw
Ditching straws is just scratching the surface, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Small actions can have large effects, after all.
If you’re looking for a way to contribute your small (and large) acts, consider helping out with Clean the Bay Your Way . You might be more familiar with the title Clean the Bay Day. This year, for various reasons, the name of the event has been slightly changed to keep up with the changing times. More on that below.
As mentioned in their press release, each year, typically on the first Saturday of June, Virginia Beach residents simultaneously descend on the rivers, streams, beaches as well as land-based properties of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to remove harmful litter and debris.
While the southern end of Virginia Beach including the Back Bay area is part of the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed, in past years, BBNW refuge has held a clean-up day at the same time as Clean the Bay Day. This year, the refuge will not be holding a clean-up day concurrent with this year’s event.
Be on the lookout for future communication regarding clean-up and beautification at BBNWR.
Since the origination of Clean the Bay Day in 1989, approximately 152,000 Virginia volunteers have donated their time and energy which has resulted in having removed more than 6.5 million pounds of debris from more than 7,390 miles of shoreline. There’s power in numbers!
Important to note: The event is going to run a little differently this year. The 2021 event will last 6 days: Monday, May 31st to Saturday, June 5th.
The six-day event gives participants the flexibility to do a litter clean-up anytime during that six-day period. This also ensures that participants will not be convening at the same time allowing them to adhere to social distancing regulations.
There’s other important information to be aware of as well (for instance, you must register ahead of time; you may request bags for the litter, etc.), so be sure to click this link for more details.
Photo by Kenny Fletcher Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Whether or not you’re able to help in this year’s Clean the Bay Day efforts, there are all kinds of things you and your family can do to help make a difference. Here are some tips from the documentary:
Consume Differently:
-what you buy
-what you eat
-how you get your power
Vote for leaders who will fight climate change by:
-ending fossil fuel subsidies
-investing in renewables
-leaving fossil fuels in the ground
-supporting a price on carbon
Discover your climate impact and how you can offset it, by visiting:
carbotax.org
Learn more and take action at:
BeforeTheFlood.com
More resources:
Learn about how adopting just a few of these habits can make a big impact.
33 Environmentally Friendly Eating Habits
Learn how to save energy and money with rewards, rebates, and conservation programs with
Dominion Energy. Find out about ways you can offset your carbon footprint with renewable energy programs.
Watch Kids Take Action against Ocean Plastic with your children and grandchildren – it shows inspiring kids in Hawaii taking action against plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
We all have the ability to affect our world in a positive way. Maybe we’ll see you out and about, cleaning up our beaches and waterways, throughout the year. Clean-up doesn’t just take place once a year, after all.
Remember, all of our small actions put together can have large results…our ripples make a difference!
Until next time,
“See you down at the refuge!”
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society depends on donations to fund programs and projects that directly support the Refuge. To make a donation click here .
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and support Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) in its mission to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources; through advocacy, outreach, education, fund raising, and projects for the betterment of BBNWR. For more information regarding how to become involved, click here.
Ripple effects by Laura McMahon
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Posted: May 28, 2021 by Back Bay NWR Society
rip·ple ef·fect
the continuing and spreading results of an event or action
Kayaking in and around our beautiful waterways affords a unique perspective. It’s a peaceful way to experience nature up close and personal. Sitting low atop the water, navigating through narrow fingers, you really feel connected to your surroundings.
Paddling around the refuge recently gave me pause for thought: Amidst all of the raw beauty on Earth, amidst the incredible biodiversity and intricate interconnectedness of all of its life systems, it’s apparent we’ve been given both a wonderful gift as well as a great responsibility. This planet is truly amazing, and it’s counting on us to do our part.
Our beautiful planet as seen from space “Blue marble” NASA jpeg
One of our favorite launch sites is a place we call “lily pads” – its official name is Lotus Garden Park – but “lily pads” has stuck with us simply because this waterway contains a proliferation of, well, you guessed it, lily pads.
Yellow lotus photo by Mary Reid Barrow
At various times throughout the year, it’s quite a sight to see. When the lilies are in full bloom, a blanket of buttery yellow lotus flowers sits high atop skinny stalks, surrounded by large, disk-shaped leaves of green. The pop of yellow against soothing shades of green serves up a delicious feast for the eyes.
This particular day, the flowers had yet to bloom. Instead, what caught my eye was a mother mallard duck with her babies in tow, skimming silently along the surface – a classic spring vignette; a simple, sweet story in need of no words. I eagerly made my way towards them, intent on taking a closer look.
I watched as the strokes from my paddle displaced pockets of water, swirling off into eddies and setting ripples in motion. The bands of water emanated outward, hands reaching for something just beyond grasp. Traveling farther and farther, they journeyed on, never really ending, just expanding and exploring their liquid borders.
Kayaking through flat water on calm days allows for some pretty precise maneuvers. I managed to sidle up quite close to the raft of ducks, mindful of giving them a wide berth. Thanks to my proximity, I was rewarded with a glimpse of the fuzzy down still donned by some of the youngsters.
Downy duckling photo by Malinda Garner, Ducks Unlimited
I noticed that as they swam, the ducklings formed a living, moving appendage, clinging closely to their mother’s side. They were stuck tight to her as Velcro, even as she changed direction on a dime.
Mallard and babies photo by Manyee Desandies
One duckling, however, deviated from the rest of the group, causing a ripple effect. The next closest duckling followed suit. It wobbled a hair, then so did the one next to it, and so on, and so forth, until all of the ducklings had ditched their directions and careened off course.
The mother’s soft yet chastising chortles quickly coaxed the wayward wanderers back into the fold. Having heard her voice as far back as they could remember, they were quite familiar with her repertoire of calls, and this one quite clearly told them that she meant business!
Quick as a wink, the formation was fixed, mom managed to get her ducks back in a row, and soon each little offspring had successfully synchronized its swimming to match the rest of the group.
“Ripple effects” – a series of things that happen as a result of a particular action or event. I thought, we’re not so different from the ducks. Our actions have ripple effects, too. What’s cool is when one person’s positive act radiates out and inspires others to keep the ripple going.
Think of it as doing “the wave” at a ball game; if only one or two people stand and raise their arms, it’s a bust. But when section after section commits to it, it’s quite a sight to see. Sometimes, seemingly small actions can have large effects.
Environmentally-conscious people know that adjusting our habits at the micro level can lead to positive changes at the macro level. Some fairly small changes have the potential to yield big results, especially when we all commit.
For instance, limiting our use of disposable products and disposing of our waste in a responsible manner ultimately leads to less waste in our landfills and less pollution in our waters. Less contamination in our food chain helps re-establish healthy aquatic ecosystems and benefits us as consumers.
Largemouth bass caught (and released) by Shawn McMahon
When we realize we’re all connected, that we’ve all been given a precious gift to steward- namely, this planet and all that’s in it – we begin to appreciate our unique roles and responsibilities better.
Educating ourselves and others is an important first step. The other night, we watched a good documentary on climate change presented by National Geographic. In Before the Flood, sobering statistics with far-reaching ramifications were shared.
As made clear in the film, it’s not as though there’s a lack of information out there about our global impact; the challenge instead lies in getting the message out in a fresh and relevant way without it sounding like a broken record. Time is of the essence now more than ever.
The good news is more and more people are being educated and taking action. Our children and grandchildren are being taught about global challenges and their collective role as helpers. Kids can really get behind a cause when they see how their actions directly affect animals and ecosystems, as well as people.
As a matter of fact, children can often be the best “enforcers” of practicing good habits. They have a way of being heard! As my great-nephew tells anyone within earshot, “Don’t use plastic straws! They’ll kill the turtles!”
#skipthestraw
Ditching straws is just scratching the surface, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Small actions can have large effects, after all.
If you’re looking for a way to contribute your small (and large) acts, consider helping out with Clean the Bay Your Way . You might be more familiar with the title Clean the Bay Day. This year, for various reasons, the name of the event has been slightly changed to keep up with the changing times. More on that below.
As mentioned in their press release, each year, typically on the first Saturday of June, Virginia Beach residents simultaneously descend on the rivers, streams, beaches as well as land-based properties of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to remove harmful litter and debris.
While the southern end of Virginia Beach including the Back Bay area is part of the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed, in past years, BBNW refuge has held a clean-up day at the same time as Clean the Bay Day. This year, the refuge will not be holding a clean-up day concurrent with this year’s event.
Be on the lookout for future communication regarding clean-up and beautification at BBNWR.
Since the origination of Clean the Bay Day in 1989, approximately 152,000 Virginia volunteers have donated their time and energy which has resulted in having removed more than 6.5 million pounds of debris from more than 7,390 miles of shoreline. There’s power in numbers!
Important to note: The event is going to run a little differently this year. The 2021 event will last 6 days: Monday, May 31st to Saturday, June 5th.
The six-day event gives participants the flexibility to do a litter clean-up anytime during that six-day period. This also ensures that participants will not be convening at the same time allowing them to adhere to social distancing regulations.
There’s other important information to be aware of as well (for instance, you must register ahead of time; you may request bags for the litter, etc.), so be sure to click this link for more details.
Photo by Kenny Fletcher Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Whether or not you’re able to help in this year’s Clean the Bay Day efforts, there are all kinds of things you and your family can do to help make a difference. Here are some tips from the documentary:
Consume Differently:
-what you buy
-what you eat
-how you get your power
Vote for leaders who will fight climate change by:
-ending fossil fuel subsidies
-investing in renewables
-leaving fossil fuels in the ground
-supporting a price on carbon
Discover your climate impact and how you can offset it, by visiting:
carbotax.org
Learn more and take action at:
BeforeTheFlood.com
More resources:
Learn about how adopting just a few of these habits can make a big impact.
33 Environmentally Friendly Eating Habits
Learn how to save energy and money with rewards, rebates, and conservation programs with
Dominion Energy. Find out about ways you can offset your carbon footprint with renewable energy programs.
Watch Kids Take Action against Ocean Plastic with your children and grandchildren – it shows inspiring kids in Hawaii taking action against plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
We all have the ability to affect our world in a positive way. Maybe we’ll see you out and about, cleaning up our beaches and waterways, throughout the year. Clean-up doesn’t just take place once a year, after all.
Remember, all of our small actions put together can have large results…our ripples make a difference!
Until next time,
“See you down at the refuge!”
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society depends on donations to fund programs and projects that directly support the Refuge. To make a donation click here .
The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and support Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) in its mission to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources; through advocacy, outreach, education, fund raising, and projects for the betterment of BBNWR. For more information regarding how to become involved, click here.
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