Before I discovered the Merlin bird ID app from the ornithology lab at Cornell, I had to work pretty hard to figure out who I was listening to: https://ecbinvienna.com/2021/03/18/a-blackbirds-song/
Today I discovered why it was worth it: https://science.orf.at/stories/3237085/
Blackbirds rule! 😊
The city of Vienna offers very interesting and well-organized public lectures, held in the very beautiful ceremonial hall of City Hall, and I noticed at some point, with some surprise, that I have become not a lady who lunches but a lady who goes to lectures.
The topic this evening is artificial light and its impact on us and the natural world. Of course there are benefits like increased security, but the cost is quite high. Not only can it be literally fatal for animals — birds, for example, that at night usually navigate by the light of the moon, lose their way and fly into buildings — but it’s not very healthy for us either. Street lights can upset our circadian rhythms, measurably disturb the length and quality of our sleep, and are correlated to depression, among other health problems.
Luckily, there are things we can do. As the speaker, Florian Stuker, put it, this is literally an environmental challenge with an off switch. 😉 Much of what he said wasn’t new to me (Vienna has been changing the streetlamps so that they still provide enough light for safety but don’t shine quite so brightly and diffusely). What was new was the idea that there are dark zones, one in a national park in Austria, so that we can all rediscover what a natural night looks like. My next holiday, I think.
An evening well spent, I feel.
In need of a bit of fresh air, I went off to walk along the Donaukanal this evening. My first summer in Vienna, when I was preparing for my audition at the conservatory, I went every evening. I was living in a student residence (katholische Hochschülerinnenheim) on Servitengasse in the 9th and would walk over as a part of my fitness regime.
High time I came again. It is beautiful with the trees and green, swiftly flowing water. I didn’t used to come up to Spittelau, where the famous Hundertwasser trash incinerator is, but I’m glad I did this evening.
And the linden trees are getting started. There was promise in the air yesterday evening. After a temperature of 31°C (high 80s Fahrenheit) today, they are flooding the air with their perfume.
All in all, a nice evening constitutional on this “Pfingstmontag” (Whitmonday) holiday.
A kind relative alerted me the date. April 17th is International Haiku Poetry Day. So here is a haiku — written off the cuff as I always feel haiku should be (but which I don’t always achieve).
Blue skies and bright sun
Lilacs a little early
Yes! Spring is springing
(The photo is from a few days ago. The sky is blue and the sun is shining today.)
FYI – The Vienna City Marathon is on Sunday. Stand by for the usual report (which, however, due to circumstances, will probably be shorter than usual).
Do Cows Use Tools? This One Does. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/science/animals-cows-intelligence-tools.html?unlocked_article_code=1.H1A.fdOP.1KOQ6Z3fH8kD&smid=nytcore-android-share
For a light-hearted item in an increasingly heavy-hearted time.
Twice in one year, but they have been flirting with us. After my near rapturous post on May 26, the scent faded again. Then it would appear and disappear. Just Monday, a friend commented that it was a wonderful year for roses, and I said, rather sadly, “But not for the linden trees.”
This morning I was taking my usual walk in the park and was overwhelmed with the scent. They’re back in full force, and I am basking in the fragrance.
A little later this year than last, which I think is a good thing. I caught a faint whiff this morning and by this evening they were as noticeable as ever. Ah, May!
The last two mornings I got the faintest whiff and thought I was imagining it because it is very early. This morning, it was clear — the linden trees are flowering again and the air is full of the sweet tantalizing scent.
Since I like to check my perceptions, I decided to go back and see if it really is so early or whether I was making that up. Here are the dates of my previous posts about the linden trees:
2023: Beginning of June
2022: June 2nd
2021: June 7th
2020: June 10th
2017: May 30th
2016: June 4th
2015: June 2nd
2012: May 24th
2011: May 30th
I’ll let you do the math.
Two days ago I caught a whiff of a sweet fragrance as we set out on our morning dog walk. Yesterday it was clear it was the linden blossoms of one particular tree that gets a lot of sun. Today it reminded to let you know — it must be June, the linden trees are out.
Happy June!
Every year the MA 42 (the “Magistratsabteiling” of the City of Vienna responsible for public parks and gardens) choose certain mixtures of flowers that they plant everywhere. The daffodils and red tulips are gone, but these have come out. I have no idea what they are (I am the kind person who is happy to work in a garden as long as someone else tells me what to do), but they are tall (about a foot and a half) and look like something out of Dr. Seuss, if you ask me. Fun.
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