I love this perspective: "I am more interested in sitting still, moving slowly, and learning how to earn the approval of birds." plus these pictures..... breath taking.
Thank you. There are so many benefits to being patient and still. The birds definitely approve of that way of being. It is the only way I have found to get close enough to the birds to get detailed images.
I am glad you appreciate the poems. They just seem to find me somehow. Two of those poems came from a book on Buddhism. I have been giving thanks to the fruit trees over the past couple of weeks. The harvest of apples and pears has been amazing this year despite our challenging spring. We are making apple butter, apple sauce, dried apples, and apple cobbler.
Thank you for sharing your ‘early morning with the birds.’ Just beautiful. I love the question of do the trees know? I always felt there had to be a sense between the birds and the trees, the joy, food, and protection the trees provide to such amazing creatures. Wonderful essay, beautiful perspective, gorgeous photos.
I think the trees know and that in many cases the birds make them happy. This time of year the jays, woodpeckers, and crows are busy dispersing acorns across the landscape. The trees may not always be happy to see the woodpeckers show up, but that is the way of nature.
You reflect so poetically that which I cannot express in words but have seen and felt here on my little oasis of thirteen field and wooded acres for the last twenty-two years. ❤️ thank you. 🤗
Thanks for my vicarious membership in the flock this morning. How great the detailed photo of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, with the few barbs of the watermelon color emerging from under the wing. I love the attention to "inhabiting the mystery," rather than obsessing acquisitively over identification or listing. Well done. A pleasure to read.
Thank you. The image of the grosbeak was an ephemeral close encounter. She was about six feet away and she stopped just long enough to check me out before moving on.
Thanks David. I am glad to hear that you are grateful for this essay. I hope you enjoy the feast and take a little something with you on your next adventure. I have really enjoyed your recent writing as well. Especially the essay on aging. That was really beautiful.
Hello Edward, I am happy to talk about photography and cameras. I have used several different Canon cameras and I currently have a Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera with the Canon 100-500mm lens. I am really happy with this setup.
Yes...to this: "I now spend less time focusing on the small details and more time inhabiting the mystery. I am more content to be with the birds and less intent on documenting their presence in eBird. I still submit checklists, but the desire to list and seek social approval is fading."
I feel similarly about iNaturalist. I prefer to be a "part of the silence." It appears you do as well.
I use inaturalist sparingly, just like ebird. I have to find something special or potentially interesting to others before I submit. I do love being part of the silence. I had a beautiful experience yesterday standing amidst my fruit trees watching warblers forage over my compost pile. I know that I am in the zone when I can hear their wingbeats and their tiny bills snapping shut.
Perfectly said. A wonderful morning meal for the soul, a blessing from Gods heart to our souls. A revelation of the peace and beauty that is he and us.
I have used several different Canon cameras and I currently have a Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera with the Canon 100-500mm lens. I am really happy with this setup. I am grateful that I have reached a point where I can afford gear like this. This set up is quite expensive. I have taken many beautiful pictures with a Canon 7D, which is more moderately priced.
I could not see them, there being no moon And the stars sparse. I heard them.
I did not know what was happening in my heart.
It was the season before the elderberry blooms, Therefore they were going north.
The sound was passing northward.
[ B ]
Tell me a story.
In this century, and moment, of mania,
Tell me a story.
Make it a story of great distances, and starlight.
The name of the story will be Time,
But you must not pronounce its name.
Tell me a story of deep delight.
- Robert Penn Warren
I have thought often of this poem when you invoke the ephemeral nature of your topics, particularly your use of stardust as a descriptor and the cyclical aspects of migration. As this week is on birding, this poem is appropriately from a collection called Audubon: A Vision.
Thank you again for another Friday and another story.
I love this perspective: "I am more interested in sitting still, moving slowly, and learning how to earn the approval of birds." plus these pictures..... breath taking.
Thank you. There are so many benefits to being patient and still. The birds definitely approve of that way of being. It is the only way I have found to get close enough to the birds to get detailed images.
Each paragraph, each poem more beautiful than the previous one.
I especially love the idea of praying to the birds. I sometimes pray to the trees.
I am glad you appreciate the poems. They just seem to find me somehow. Two of those poems came from a book on Buddhism. I have been giving thanks to the fruit trees over the past couple of weeks. The harvest of apples and pears has been amazing this year despite our challenging spring. We are making apple butter, apple sauce, dried apples, and apple cobbler.
Reminds me of the tradition of wassailing the apple trees to ensure a good harvest. Thanks for the lovely, evocative essay.
Thank you for sharing your ‘early morning with the birds.’ Just beautiful. I love the question of do the trees know? I always felt there had to be a sense between the birds and the trees, the joy, food, and protection the trees provide to such amazing creatures. Wonderful essay, beautiful perspective, gorgeous photos.
I think the trees know and that in many cases the birds make them happy. This time of year the jays, woodpeckers, and crows are busy dispersing acorns across the landscape. The trees may not always be happy to see the woodpeckers show up, but that is the way of nature.
"I love the question of do the trees know?"
YES!!! What a wonderful thought!
This! All of it.
You reflect so poetically that which I cannot express in words but have seen and felt here on my little oasis of thirteen field and wooded acres for the last twenty-two years. ❤️ thank you. 🤗
Such enthusiasm. I love it! Thank you for sharing your appreciation, it means a lot to me.
What a beautiful piece! I felt like I was right there with you.
Thank you. That is my goal. I am glad to hear that you felt like you were there with me.
Thanks for my vicarious membership in the flock this morning. How great the detailed photo of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, with the few barbs of the watermelon color emerging from under the wing. I love the attention to "inhabiting the mystery," rather than obsessing acquisitively over identification or listing. Well done. A pleasure to read.
Thank you. The image of the grosbeak was an ephemeral close encounter. She was about six feet away and she stopped just long enough to check me out before moving on.
Lordy, Bill what a table you have set for us. Utterly lost within the feast and profoundly grateful. Thank you. I'll be chewing on this one all day.
Thanks David. I am glad to hear that you are grateful for this essay. I hope you enjoy the feast and take a little something with you on your next adventure. I have really enjoyed your recent writing as well. Especially the essay on aging. That was really beautiful.
Thank you 🙏
Lovely photos. Could you share with us what model camera you use?
Hello Edward, I am happy to talk about photography and cameras. I have used several different Canon cameras and I currently have a Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera with the Canon 100-500mm lens. I am really happy with this setup.
Yes...to this: "I now spend less time focusing on the small details and more time inhabiting the mystery. I am more content to be with the birds and less intent on documenting their presence in eBird. I still submit checklists, but the desire to list and seek social approval is fading."
I feel similarly about iNaturalist. I prefer to be a "part of the silence." It appears you do as well.
I use inaturalist sparingly, just like ebird. I have to find something special or potentially interesting to others before I submit. I do love being part of the silence. I had a beautiful experience yesterday standing amidst my fruit trees watching warblers forage over my compost pile. I know that I am in the zone when I can hear their wingbeats and their tiny bills snapping shut.
What a lovely and poetic essay!
Ah! This time I waited long enough to read other readers’ comments.
I enjoy everything about this post, photos, story, humility mixed with great knowing, and the occasional poems ... + the comments!
I live in a Danish suburb and never see so many birds at a time, but I love the reciprocity when they let me come close. (Today a young heron.)
Perfectly said. A wonderful morning meal for the soul, a blessing from Gods heart to our souls. A revelation of the peace and beauty that is he and us.
Such a beautiful way to start my day. Thank you for the gorgeous photos and words.
Beautiful, but it sounds like they are praying for the birds, not to the birds.
I think they are praying for the birds and in the case of the Raven to the bird.
Bill I'd love to know about the camera and lenses you are working with. Wonderful piece - glad for the "Make Prayers to the Raven" book suggestion.
I have used several different Canon cameras and I currently have a Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera with the Canon 100-500mm lens. I am really happy with this setup. I am grateful that I have reached a point where I can afford gear like this. This set up is quite expensive. I have taken many beautiful pictures with a Canon 7D, which is more moderately priced.
Nice to know! I am looking at purchasing the R6 as well from another recommendation I received, so this is very affirming!
“Tell Me a Story”
[ A ]
Long ago, in Kentucky, I, a boy, stood
By a dirt road, in first dark, and heard
The great geese hoot northward.
I could not see them, there being no moon And the stars sparse. I heard them.
I did not know what was happening in my heart.
It was the season before the elderberry blooms, Therefore they were going north.
The sound was passing northward.
[ B ]
Tell me a story.
In this century, and moment, of mania,
Tell me a story.
Make it a story of great distances, and starlight.
The name of the story will be Time,
But you must not pronounce its name.
Tell me a story of deep delight.
- Robert Penn Warren
I have thought often of this poem when you invoke the ephemeral nature of your topics, particularly your use of stardust as a descriptor and the cyclical aspects of migration. As this week is on birding, this poem is appropriately from a collection called Audubon: A Vision.
Thank you again for another Friday and another story.
Thanks for sharing, Pete. That is beautiful!