Thriving in the Wind: Lessons from the Wild - March 23, 2026

Jennifer Dowd
Mar 23
3 min read

Over the past few days, my community has been wrapped in a mix of overcast skies, rain, and relentless wind. Not exactly ideal conditions for wildlife or nature photography… but I went anyway.

Because sometimes, it’s not about the perfect conditions. It’s about showing up.

I set out with one goal in mind: to find a mute swan. I didn’t find one. But what I did find reminded me why I keep going.

Instead of a swan, I came across a male and female green-winged teal.

They were trying to feed, but the wind kept pushing them across the water like tiny boats without anchors. I stood there watching them, noticing something I had never realized before…

They are so small.

Compared to the mallards around them, they were about a third of the size. I actually paused in surprise.

How had I never noticed this before?

Even after all this time, nature still finds ways to teach me something new.

Did you know?

Green-winged teals are one of the smallest dabbling ducks in North America—and despite their size, they are incredibly agile fliers, capable of quick, twisting movements to escape predators.

Lesson from the teal: You don’t have to be big to be resilient. Strength often comes quietly, in persistence.

Among the mallards, I spotted three familiar beauties, two male and one female common goldeneyes.

I love these birds. Their striking black-and-white bodies shimmer with hints of emerald in the sunlight, and their golden eyes seem to glow against the grey day. They too were trying to feed… and like the teal, they were being pushed around by the wind, drifting into groups of buffleheads. It was chaotic. Unpredictable.

Did you know?

Common goldeneyes are diving ducks and can stay underwater for up to 20 seconds while foraging.

And yet, they kept diving. Kept trying. Kept showing up for themselves.

Lesson from the goldeneye: Even when life feels unstable, you can still go deep. You can still find what you need beneath the surface.

And then, one bufflehead stood apart. Alone on the water. His head shimmered with iridescent purples and teals, catching what little light broke through the clouds. It felt like everything slowed down for just a moment.

A reminder that beauty doesn’t need perfect conditions to exist. It just needs presence.

Did you know?

Buffleheads are among the smallest diving ducks and often nest in tree cavities—sometimes using old woodpecker holes.

Lesson from the bufflehead: There is power in standing still, even when everything around you is moving.

Nearby, three female mergansers floated together. Despite the wind, they preened, rested, and even soaked in moments of sunlight when it broke through. Their soft brown feathers and striking orange beaks stood out against the grey water.

They weren’t fighting the storm. They were simply living within it.

Did you know?

Mergansers have serrated bills that help them grip slippery fish—earning them the nickname “sawbill ducks.”

Lesson from the mergansers: You don’t always have to resist what’s happening around you. Sometimes, peace comes from adapting instead of pushing back.

At another local park, I found rock lizards basking in the sun, bellies pressed flat against warm stones.

Their textured skin shimmered, absorbing every bit of heat they could find. Even on a cold, windy day… they found warmth.

Did you know?

Reptiles are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external heat sources like the sun or warm surfaces to regulate their body temperature.

Lesson from the lizards: Seek out the small pockets of warmth in your life. They are always there—you just have to notice them.

On my way back to the car, I noticed something else…

Life was blooming.

Bright orange clusters of flowers known as Darwin’s barberry were starting to bloom. These flowers are a major early nectar source for bees and hummingbirds. Later in the season, they turn into dark blue/purple berries