On our recent trip to Ontario, I picked up a new hobby: birder watching. I observed people observing birds. I watched the “birder dance,” the way people lean and twist and crouch, trying to catch a glimpse of an elusive bird. When they do finally see the object of their desire, an unconscious smile spreads across their faces. They stand and stare, content and in love. The expression on their faces is as beautiful as the birds themselves. It is an honest portrayal of joy.
What a powerful essay! I feel like birds are earths messengers connecting us all, if we listen. It seems universal.
I am listening to the birds wake up in Austin today, and I thank you for this written gift reminding me to have hope and persist in the fight for climate justice.
Thank you so much Bill and Mercy for taking us all along on your birding trip to the Long Point Bird Observatory of Ontario Canada. Wow! What a wonderful example of preserving a bird pathway for migrating birds. So perfect to see a place for new and old birders and BIRDS!! I suspect there will be more trips to this wonderful place.
Lovely read. We had bird banding for the spring migration here at Fort Morgan, Alabama and it was magical. Many yellow warblers... A favorite! I'd love to visit this site you shared! Only recently years did I grow so fond of birding! I woke this morning at our newer home off the coast with a momma Thrasher feeding 2 fledglings in my yard, first sighting here. Such excitement it brings! Your photography was so enjoyable
Yellow Warblers are beautiful and relatively abundant. We met a couple that walked all of the trails at Point Pelee in a day and they counted Yellow Warblers. They saw 1,000 of them.
I consider myself a “bird watcher” appreciating the nature around me at the moment. A true “birder” spends many moments in the same spot observing a particular bird or location.
I love your essays. Thank you for sharing this part of your life focusing on what's really important in a quiet voice. I feed birds in my backyard because I love to hear their cheery songs, I also have a waterfall fountain and it's interesting to watch them bath on separate levels.
Hello Karen, I am glad to hear you appreciate my writing. I know what you mean about cheery songs. We have a House Wren nesting in our yard and he sings his boisterous song all day long.
Hi Beth, Thank you. I am glad you felt like you were there. That is my goal for each essay. It is nice to know that birds can span the distance between us.
Their necessity would indicate that the human population of birders is so great that signage is necessary.
I witnessed the path of Totality on a glorious blue sky day. Like you Bill, just taking a moment to watch the gathering of people, I came to the same conclusion. When everyone is out there experiencing the joy , there was an undeniable camaraderie of strangers. “They were smiling and completely absorbed…”
I love the "camraderie of strangers" dynamic among birders. People from all over the world come together and share moments of pure joy. There are times when everyone is so focused on birds that everything else falls away.
Fascinating. How do the people at the banding station capture the birds? Do we really know if there are no long-term effects on the birds having a metal ring on their foot? I would find it uncomfortable to have such an object on my foot. I wonder if this is necessary; I doubt the birds have given their consent.
Hi Perry, The banders catch the birds in mist nets. There is research showing that banding has some detrimental effects for some species and research showing that birds maintain normal weight and live a long life while banded. People are constantly working to minimize risk and refine protocols to improve outcomes. The public relations benefits and value of the data in helping us understand bird population dynamics are two imprtant benefits of banding.
I am bothered by the idea of banding; I did some research on it after reading your article. It is an old idea that has no benefit today and does harm to avians. Mist nets are not the only methods used to capture birds. Here is a link to an article in Nature:
What a powerful essay! I feel like birds are earths messengers connecting us all, if we listen. It seems universal.
I am listening to the birds wake up in Austin today, and I thank you for this written gift reminding me to have hope and persist in the fight for climate justice.
It’s for the birds.
Thank you. I like the idea of birds as messengers. They certainly do bring people together.
Thank you so much Bill and Mercy for taking us all along on your birding trip to the Long Point Bird Observatory of Ontario Canada. Wow! What a wonderful example of preserving a bird pathway for migrating birds. So perfect to see a place for new and old birders and BIRDS!! I suspect there will be more trips to this wonderful place.
I am glad you enjoyed the essay. I wish I lived closer to the LPBO. I would be there all the time!
Lovely read. We had bird banding for the spring migration here at Fort Morgan, Alabama and it was magical. Many yellow warblers... A favorite! I'd love to visit this site you shared! Only recently years did I grow so fond of birding! I woke this morning at our newer home off the coast with a momma Thrasher feeding 2 fledglings in my yard, first sighting here. Such excitement it brings! Your photography was so enjoyable
Yellow Warblers are beautiful and relatively abundant. We met a couple that walked all of the trails at Point Pelee in a day and they counted Yellow Warblers. They saw 1,000 of them.
I consider myself a “bird watcher” appreciating the nature around me at the moment. A true “birder” spends many moments in the same spot observing a particular bird or location.
I think I vascillate between bird watcher and birder depending on the circumstances.
I so enjoyed your journey and the account of bird-banding. Thank you for taking us along. :)
You are welcome. Thanks for letting me know you appreciate this essay.
Thanks for the reading Mercy. Love the photos Bill. Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience with us.
I love your essays. Thank you for sharing this part of your life focusing on what's really important in a quiet voice. I feed birds in my backyard because I love to hear their cheery songs, I also have a waterfall fountain and it's interesting to watch them bath on separate levels.
Hello Karen, I am glad to hear you appreciate my writing. I know what you mean about cheery songs. We have a House Wren nesting in our yard and he sings his boisterous song all day long.
Wonderful account and stunning bird photos!
Another beautiful article. Glorious photos and heartfelt words. I felt like I was there with you. Brilliant. Thanks so much.
Hi Beth, Thank you. I am glad you felt like you were there. That is my goal for each essay. It is nice to know that birds can span the distance between us.
I wish ‘Birder Crossing’ signs were everywhere!
Their necessity would indicate that the human population of birders is so great that signage is necessary.
I witnessed the path of Totality on a glorious blue sky day. Like you Bill, just taking a moment to watch the gathering of people, I came to the same conclusion. When everyone is out there experiencing the joy , there was an undeniable camaraderie of strangers. “They were smiling and completely absorbed…”
“It is an honest portrayal of joy.”
Just think what that would be like.
I love the "camraderie of strangers" dynamic among birders. People from all over the world come together and share moments of pure joy. There are times when everyone is so focused on birds that everything else falls away.
Fascinating. How do the people at the banding station capture the birds? Do we really know if there are no long-term effects on the birds having a metal ring on their foot? I would find it uncomfortable to have such an object on my foot. I wonder if this is necessary; I doubt the birds have given their consent.
Hi Perry, The banders catch the birds in mist nets. There is research showing that banding has some detrimental effects for some species and research showing that birds maintain normal weight and live a long life while banded. People are constantly working to minimize risk and refine protocols to improve outcomes. The public relations benefits and value of the data in helping us understand bird population dynamics are two imprtant benefits of banding.
Hi Bill,
I am bothered by the idea of banding; I did some research on it after reading your article. It is an old idea that has no benefit today and does harm to avians. Mist nets are not the only methods used to capture birds. Here is a link to an article in Nature:
https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/bird-banding-83032042/#:~:text=History,Mortensen.
Needless to say, I find the whole idea of banding birds harmful and unnecessary. Human Scientific Hubris at work once again.
I’m reading your essay under an umbrella on my deck listening to my birds. They don’t seem to mind the rain. Lot’s of conversations going on out here!