Last week, I participated with 15 other artists, writers, and photographers in a fascinating retreat to Block Island – a beautiful sanctuary for people and birds off the coast of Rhode Island. One of the writing exercises was to write a letter from Block Island about the experience. This is what I wrote.

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Seven miles long and three miles wide, this tear-shaped island jewel sits surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with views of three, maybe four States (see map). We were reminded by Hurricane Joachin that the sea is mighty and our ships are small, and arrived a day late. It turns out that the ferries can’t run if the swells are over nine feet. By Monday morning, the ocean had calmed just enough. After a rocky ride, we arrived at the magnificent Spring House Hotel. Soon after, the sun appeared and we were rewarded with four stunning weather days.

We were there to witness the work of Biodiversity Research Institute (or BRI), in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and The Oceanview Foundation.

BRI researchers come to this island each fall to track songbirds and raptors as they stop during their annual migration. For these birds, it is an important place of refuge for rest and rehydration. Block Island is a summer destination for tourists but its permanent population numbers less than a thousand. Many hotels and restaurants shut down for the winter. The people here, though few in number, care deeply about this place. Forty-four percent of the land area is preserved, a testament to Margaret Mead’s well known quote,

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. (via Brainy Quote)

Islands are different. The sea is humbling. Maybe that’s why the people I encountered here are so humble.

There was Kim – stargazer, songbird bander, and director of the Oceanview Foundation. Block Island is in her blood and her fine motor skills, patience, and tenderness after 35 years of bird banding is inspiring.

Diandra, newly hired by The Nature Conservancy, left dentistry to pursue marine biology. A surfer and swimmer, she knew all about sea creatures and was like a fish herself, not afraid to swim with stingrays.

Rondo, our taxi driver, has been on this island for 30 years. He’s a people person – former math teacher, published author of books about God, and house builder for Habitat for Humanity around the world. He made us feel welcome.

Rick, the bird man, got into this work because he could build and climb. Turns out he loves birds too and it shows through his smile. Here he is releasing a peregrine falcon.

Chris, the raptor guy, actually head of the whole raptor program, is always scanning the sky and relaying what he sees through his walkie-talkie. His sky vision is impressive.

The openness of my fellow participants was on display each day as they experienced the wonder and wildness – so often missing from our structured and protected lives. We created art through our chosen medium (and experimented with others) that reflected our own unique response to this place.

Can art change the world? Perhaps art and science together can.

Learn more about BRI here. You can sponsor a loon or buy one of their stunning books on owls or loons.

Here are a couple of other thoughtful and different posts on the week by two participants – Carol Albers and Sally Wright.