Through the Cracks: Wildlife in an Urban World
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's NRES 260: Introduction to Conservation Photography Final Project
I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in August 2020 to begin my collegiate career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This land-grant university (home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers!) is located in downtown Lincoln. After nearly three years of living the urban lifestyle, I have grown to greatly appreciate the wildlife and wild things that persist in this not-so-nurturing habitat. I feel as though over the years I, too have adapted to life in the metropolitan.
The iconic Nebraska State Capitol building towers over downtown Lincoln. The statue at the top, the “Sower”, symbolizes agriculture, an extremely important industry in the state of Nebraska.
“The Haymarket” is a historical icon that is just as important to life in downtown Lincoln as the State Capitol building. At its origins, the Haymarket was an open-air market for agricultural exchanges, such as hay (the namesake of the market) and livestock. Currently, the Haymarket is a downtown gathering area composed of many businesses and office buildings, hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. For a human, there is no lack of things to do in the Haymarket, and the rich history is one to be recognized. For wildlife and plants, the Haymarket is a place where they must adapt to the bustle of human activity, limited natural habitat, and harshly unnatural circumstances. Yet, urban wildlife has done it since cities were created, and have no choice but continue to do so.
The recognizable “Historic Haymarket” sign on Q Street greets visitors as they enter the boundaries of the haymarket for a night on the town.
An interesting sign on a fountain at the center of the haymarket depicts the existence of urban animals dating all the way back to 1908. One could speculate that wildlife such as birds, snakes, coyotes, raccoons, even foxes probably used the pictured fountain as well as “Dog, Horse, and Human…”
Wildlife habitat in the Haymarket is limited to the occasional greenspace or tree, so oftentimes wildlife can be found in parking lots, on sidewalks, or on the top of buildings. Wildlife living in urban settings are often habituated, meaning they are used to certain circumstances that they normally would not be used to, such as cars driving by, people walking near them, or loud noises. I often found it easy to photograph the urban wildlife that I saw due to this habituation as they were not bothered by my presence or the clicking of my camera. Most of the time, it was as if I was never even there. While in the Haymarket, I spotted a few little birds by the side of Q Street, the main road leading into the market area. I was able to lie on my belly and capture quite a few images of the same sparrow fluttering around on the sidewalk. During the time that I was taking these photos, one person walked by, one person skateboarded by, and countless cars drove by, all quite close to the sparrow. The bird was quick and got itself out of the way of the passersby, but never truly left the small greenspace that it was feeding in. Despite the unnatural environment in which this bird lives, it has adapted and persisted to survive in the urban world.
A small sparrow hops around on the sidewalk leading into the Haymarket.
The same sparrow forages through a small sidewalk greenspace, despite plenty of human hustle and bustle right near it.
It is bizarre and impressive, yet melancholy, to observe urban wildlife. They tell a powerful story of persistence and they sound a call for conservation. Obviously, tall buildings and parking garages are not the natural habitat that these animals are ecologically meant for. Yet, they have found a way to coexist in this city that was built for humans. Gutters become nesting sites, litter becomes nesting material, parking garages become lookout points and the Capitol building becomes the view. It makes me wonder about the future of wildlife – will all animals be able to live in an urban setting? Will all animals eventually have to survive in an urban setting, or will we draw a line somewhere? When will urbanization stop, if ever, to allow wild spaces for wild things? Is urban wildlife only temporary, or only the beginning? If anything, the urban wildlife we see today may be a martyr for awareness, education, and conservation of future wildlife.
Two European Starlings seek shelter and homage on a ledge of a tall downtown apartment building.
A pigeon looks out over the cityscape of downtown Lincoln.
It is important to address hopeful signs of conservation of urban wildlife. The inclusion of greenspaces, trees, and pollinator gardens in downtown Lincoln means more habitat for the wildlife living here as well. It is not uncommon to see these natural habitats being used by wildlife, and it is almost refreshing to watch wildlife exhibit natural behaviors despite the mass majority of the setting being unnatural. Often I see birds and squirrels in trees and bushes or bees and butterflies on flowers in miniature gardens. It is a positive sign that the animals are using these areas, as it shows endurance of these natural behaviors and a continued need for greenspaces in urban settings.
A squirrel scratches behind his ear while perched way up in an oak tree by the UNL campus.
A sparrow sits alert in a tree just near Q Street and the entrance to the Haymarket.
Urban wildlife exists in a space built for humans. We, as humans, have no choice but to share that space with the wildlife, and the wildlife has no choice but to share that space with us as well. They were there before us and will be there after us, so for the time being, we must all learn to coexist. It is difficult to expect an overall respect from humans towards wildlife for a multitude of reasons. Culture, personal beliefs, awareness, and values all play a part in causing a spectrum of behaviors and attitudes towards wildlife. Education is a vital step to bringing a majority of people into awareness of the existence of urban wildlife. Signage, creative projects, a multitude of mediums, class courses, and written and verbal stories are all examples of simple educational options that bring light to the wildlife living in our cities and teach us how to respect them. We need to learn to care because these plants and animals play vital roles in their ecosystems and without them, the balance of life can be so easily thrown off. Nature, even in a downtown setting, is created to check itself and maintain a specific order. Take out a step in that ladder, and the whole system crumples. In an urban area, humans must be considered as a step in the ladder, and by learning to coexist and play our part correctly, we can preserve our shared home, our collective ecosystem, and our local wildlife for years to come.
A local man skateboards alongside a greenspace full of sparrows, plants, and other wildlife.
It would be negligent to discuss perseverance without addressing the never-ending willpower of plants to grow in an urban area. Although typically overseen and regarded as mundane, plants, just like animals, play a vital role in every ecosystem. In the urban setting that is downtown Lincoln, I found myself finding great beauty and admirable power in these plants. They defy all odds and manage to grow up the sides of buildings, through the cracks in concrete, and sometimes they even crawl completely across sidewalks. These plants tell the most visually powerful story of perseverance, and they inspired the title of this work. In a place where they are not made to exist, they thrive. They bring beauty to a normally boring slab of concrete, and they remind us to appreciate simple blessings. Just as they would be in a natural ecosystem, these plants are the backbone for all else in their urban ecosystem.
A persistent plant appears to grow out of the side of a brick building and crawl partly across the sidewalk.
Some stubborn Foxtails grow through the cracks of some concrete just alongside the very busy O Street.
I believe that there is much to be taught by urban wildlife and plants that is applicable everywhere, even to the humans living in a city that is built for them. To find your place and work hard to make it your home, to be flexible and adaptable, to keep a watchful eye on you and your friends’ safety, but most importantly, to find a way to grow despite the cracks in life. Thus, since mutualism is a give and a take, what can we, as humans, do for our wildlife counterparts? Spread awareness, tell a story, show respect, educate ourselves and others, and most importantly, learn to coexist. Only when we find a way to live peacefully alongside one another, can we all truly make it in this world.
