Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

flying

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We are surrounded by robins.  Hundreds.  I have never seen robins in a flock before.  It is cool and breezy and they are frolicking and twittering.  
They chase each other and seem to be having a grand time.  Perhaps it is a reunion.  More likely a migration - it feels very  much like fall today.

Makes me think about freedom.  We use the term, "Free as a bird" for good reason.
But the thing about freedom is that it can't be absolute.  You see, there is a house sitting here.  And no matter how much they may want to, they cannot fly in this bit of space that is occupied by my house.  

As I sit here I am facing a large window and was quite startled a while ago when a robin nearly flew into the glass!  It caught itself and veered away just in the nick of time.  A few moments later we heard a loud thud from a different part of the house.  I looked outside, but didn't see any dead or wounded birds, so it must have recovered.

Freedom is wonderful!  But always there are restrictions and limits.  Whether because of natural boundaries, or because of lawful boundaries there are certain things we just cannot do.  And usually those boundaries are for our own good.
And sometimes, like the window, those boundaries can be deceptive.  They may appear to lead to a way of freedom, but they don't.

So, spread your wings and fly today!  Enjoy the freedom you've been blessed with.  But keep your eyes peeled for plate glass!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

more about magpies

Here is a photo I took this morning through my screen.  the middle one is a baby.  He's just a little bit fuzzier than the others.  Much noisier and more demanding.  I wish I had a good audio recorder so I could share with you just what its like around here.  
ImageIf you click here it will take you to a site with a Magpie photo.  Just under the photo is a very small green box you can click to hear the Magpie.  The pretty song you hear in the background is a Meadowlark.  We have those, too.  Not that I can hear them over the other racket.  Now, imagine that Magpie multiplied by about ten.  And the babies sound harsher, louder, more demanding...

Saturday, June 14, 2008

backyard geographic

My friend Accidental Poet has a blog with a webcam of a robin's nest.  Go there and scroll down to the beginning to see their little journey.  It is very interesting.  Go look!  I should have mentioned it earlier.