Having photographed birds for some time now, you might think I’m able to distinguish them by their songs. Not so. I was amazed to find an app called Merlin that I can set to listen and it will detect which birds are singing right now wherever I am. Beautiful!
The birds are in a Spring frenzy right now. I think they are confused in that we had hot weather and now we are having cooler weather - I hope they don’t get ready to migrate for the Fall based on the temps! Really, they are not confused at all. But they are emptying my birdfeeders quickly.
The Robins are scurrying mostly on the ground looking for worms and other under-earthly creatures. I seldom see them at the feeder.
“The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off. Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off — and they are nearly always doing it.” — Frances Hodgson Burnett, “The Secret Garden”
I’m amazed at the diversity of the bird world. There is obviously some kind of pecking order. When a Red Bellied Woodpecker comes swooping down to the feeder, not even a Blue Jay will object. Well, he won’t show it anyway. But for the most part, they patiently wait their turn at the feeders. They scratch around on the ground together. I think we have some good things to learn from them.
To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. - John Burroughs
Some birds are here for the duration. They’ve made their home in North Louisiana. Others are flying through and just here for a moment’s rest. I get a lot of joy out of them.
Thanks for reading this post. Your click on the heart encourages me to keep taking pictures. I hope to do a post with some of the water birds I’ve enjoyed so much … sometime in the future. I hope your week is going well.
Ok, youve pushed me over the edge to write a piece of fiction that has been living in the back of my mind.
Tell me, in your photography of birds surely you observe their behavior and tendencies too--do you notice different personalities among different kinds of birds, or even different birds of the same kind?
The fiction idea is going to be little wingless fairies that ride birds, and im wondering if the bright red cardinal is the hotrod of songbirds or if maybe the Robin would be a more relaxed ride.
Keep that shutter going, John! Especially like the female cardinal(?), with the sawn wood background. And robins do seem especially polite!