When most people think of nature journaling, they imagine sketching a bird on a branch, noting the colors of a flower, or recording the changing weather. But nature journaling isn't only about what you see. One of the most important—and often overlooked—ways to connect with the natural world is by tuning in to its sounds.

Sounds have a way of pulling us outside. I often find that while I enjoy sound, I struggle to bring it to the forefront of my senses. What I mean by this is that when I’m walking outdoors, I don’t always notice the birdsong, the wind, or even the ambient noises like cars or people talking. I tend to tune them out. Yet I know some sounds can shift how I feel when I’m in nature.

So what happens when we allow sound to come to the forefront of our awareness?

This post is all about tuning into sound using a tool called a soundscape or sound map. I also tried out the Merlin app, which identifies bird calls and displays information about the birds on your screen. Birds seemed like a natural place to start when talking about sounds in relationship to journaling. Why? Because birds are everywhere. You don’t have to have a forest or green area in order to access their music. You can be in the busiest of cities, and you can still work with the sound of birds in your journal. Think of this post as a guide to help you start noticing sounds more intentionally—and using a simple outdoor walk as inspiration for what you might hear.

If you’re feeling the tug to slow down, step outside, and reconnect with the world around you, nature journaling might be exactly what you need. But where do you begin? The easiest entry point is one that feels more like play than practice: go on a nature scavenger hunt or take a simple walk outdoors. Whether you're on your own or with kids, this gentle activity opens the door to curiosity, observation, and connection—the very heart of nature journaling. And when I say "nature walk," I simply mean stepping outside. Whether you're facing desert heat or a winter blast, you can observe the world around you and begin with any notebook or journal.

This post provides a starting point with some prompts, and it gives some resources and materials for stepping into the outdoors.