Someone sent me a great question last week about how to practice complex awareness skills in the woods.

Here’s what they wrote:

“Hi, I’ve been looking through your information on bird language & moving in the woods silently to get close to wildlife, and I have a question about how to practice…

So, Let’s say I’m stalking a deer. 

How do I feel with my feet…

AND look in my peripheral vision for birds…

AND look ahead to determine the quietest route…

AND watch the deer…

AND listen for bird alarms… 

ALL WHILE I avoid causing my own bird alarms?

Your advice is incredible. I’ve seen each bit of advice separately work wonders, but I can’t balance doing them all together.

So I end up hearing a bird alarm, and then while try to figure out why it’s alarming, I stop paying attention to my feet, I step on a sharp stick and fall over, alerting the forest to my presence.

Please help me with my problem.”

First off - This is such a great question for everyone who really wants to connect deeply with nature…

The answer really just comes down to practicing in smaller chunks so you aren’t overwhelming yourself with too much complexity before you’re ready for the advanced level.

So I would recommend breaking it all down a bit more.

Now that you can do each component skill separately, the next step is to practice two at a time, until that becomes effortless. Then you can add in a third skill and gradually build in complexity.

For example:

1. Start with JUST practicing peripheral vision & 360 degree listening WHILE SEATED until you can hold external awareness without too much mental distraction or effort.

2. Next, practice the same thing, but do it while slowly moving in EASY TERRAIN like a grassy lawn or sandy beach.

3. Then blindfold yourself and practice JUST FEELING the ground and balance while moving (again in easy terrain)

4. Gradually transition to repeating these same exercises in ever more challenging landscapes featuring uneven ground, fallen logs, rocks, etc.

Always remember - If your form becomes compromised (tripping on sticks, losing balance, etc.)  it simply means you're trying to move too fast, or the terrain is too advanced for your current level.

Try slowing down and practice on easier ground to really build solid foundations before graduating to the next challenge.

Also - On the bird language piece... I would recommend you DON’T try to figure out alarms while moving.

Instead, when you hear a possible alarm, the first thing you should do is STOP, listen & look while you process what the call is telling you... Then if you need to re-position, simply decide where you want to go, and re-engage your movement practices once you have a solid plan.

This will make it so you aren't trying to process the complex mechanics of bird language while also trying to keep your senses fully engaged, while also moving quietly.

I hope that helps, let me know how it goes!

And by the way... if you find this topic interesting, I covered the bird alarm investigation & stealth process in much more depth on my complete online bird language course.

Spring is fast approaching, so this is a great time of year to start your bird journey and I’d love to help you get there!

Chirp chirp!
Brian Mertins

PS: Whenever you're ready... Here are 4 other ways I can help you go deeper and really integrate these nature awareness skills in your life:

1. Ask me your Questions About Nature and Awareness Skills Training
I love knowing all your biggest goals & challenges when it comes to exploring plants, trees, birds, wildlife tracking & sensory training for deep nature awareness. Just reply to this message and ask me your biggest questions so I can help you get where you want to go!

2. Check out my Online Nature Courses
I have a growing curriculum of online courses that will walk you through basic & advanced nature connection skills including nature journaling, crow behavior/communication, naturalist studies & bird language - Click Here.

3. Join the Nature Skills Mentoring Community
Every month I get on the phone with passionate nature lovers all around the world to train our skills with nature observation & awareness. If you’d like to work with me on growing your skills as a naturalist, tracker or nature connection mentor… just reply to this message and put “Mentoring” in the subject line and I'll get you all the details.

4. Work with me One-On-One
If you'd like to work directly with me to train your deep nature awareness skills... just reply to this message and put "One-on-One" in the subject line... tell me a little about yourself and what you'd like to work on together, and I'll get you all the details!


Also... Check these out :-)

How To Walk Silently In The Woods

9 Real Life Examples Of Bird Alarm Calls

Beginners Guide To Bird Language

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