WoodSong- Off the Beaten Path

‘Use the talents you possess — for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.’

I’m almost ready for my show- as ready as I’m going to be. The strange thing is I’m not the least bit nervous- excited yes, nervous.. no. Unlike many photographers, I learned long ago to not compare my work to anyone elses. I shoot for myself- not to please editors nor stock agencies. My photography is not about me- it never will be. So since I’m not intimidated by the large egos that pack their bags when ‘hey there’s Eagles in Homer, or The Sandhills are at Bosque’ .. photographers that are able to travel the globe for their photos, it’s a totally mute point for me. I personally know avian photographers who own over $50,000 dollars worth of equipment but they cannot identify the birds they photograph, nor do they know the songs they sing.. This floors me, but they’re out there for different reasons- we all are. Some are into self promotion- I’m into BIRD promotion.( Not ‘birding’, because quite honestly that word leaves a bad taste in my mouth at times.. for different reasons.) I always have and always will consider myself a mere watcher of birds. I watch- I listen- I learn. I’ve been ‘birding’ with groups that race around in circles, wearing their ‘gotta wear this clothing to really BE a birder outfits’, checking of lists as fast as they can. Not my bag. I’ve heard comments like ‘dontcha hate it when you wait for that LBJ to come out of cover and it’s only a chipping sparrow?’

Umm no. I happen to have a fondness for the spritely little sparrows, that so often go overlooked because they’re not bright and colorful to some.. but each bird is beautiful in their own way. That alone is what makes bird watching so satisfying and fufilling to me; no two birds sing alike.. no two birds look alike. Close, but each is an indivual. They have their own niche, their own purpose.

I have studied birds since childhood, appreciated them for what they are- and I know their names and songs. I sketched birds as a child, but I’m not good at sketching.. I’ve recorded birdsongs for years, so I can play them during the winter months when my spirit longs to hear their sweet notes that say ‘here I am, listen to my song’. None of my peers did this- and I always thought that they were missing out on so much.. it was my own little secret world, one in which I had to do nothing but sit and watch.. and more importantly listen because it is the songs and behaviors that captivated me.. enchanted me. To watch a Common Raven, an extremely intelligent member of the corvid family, tumble, roll and play with obvious abadon is sheer delight. To witness the mating ritual of American Woodcock still brings goosebumps to my flesh. When a Northern Goshawk comes barreling through our woods, fitting it’s large body through the smallest of spaces without loosing a single feather, so intent on it’s prey and every movement so precise, I’m amazed at their sheer prowess as predators. Listening to owls for hours gives me more pleasure than if I won a trip to Hawaii or some exotic place. To sit on a log with 10 species of wood warblers feeding around me with nothing but curiosity in their bright shining eyes brings tears to my own. The fact that they migrate SO far to be here humbles me each spring. Birds caught me up in a world that was so very precious, yet so very fragile. No matter what kind of day I’m having, all I have to do is get out with birds and my troubles seem so small.. because they are.

Today, ‘birding’ is a big business, with so many writing about their experiences with birds- field guides fill shelves in every bookstore across the nation, and so many have realized the pure joy of watching birds.. finally!! which to me, is a good thing. The more we cherish something, the more we protect it.. the more we make others aware of these beautiful diverse creatures that can teach us so much, the better chance WE have of making the world a better place to live.

Pamela at 5 Wells is the current host of IATB #37. She has put together a wonderful presentation from bloggers that continue to show us the beauty and fascination of birds and their behaviors. Be sure to stop by and treat yourself to another fine example of why we continue to celebrate birds.. for it is a celebration of life.

And now to finish my calendars and bookmarks.. have a wonderful weekend everyone, I plan on doing just that as I show the beauty of birds at my art show. I have florals and a few scenic prints to show, but those are paths I haven’t ventured down far- I can be all set up to make an image of a wonderful scenic view but if I hear or see a bird, off I go. ABD (Attention Bird Disorder?) Whatever it is, I’ve always have it. There is no cure. (Thankfully!)

I have friends/family and even one of my doctors travelling from hours away to be there-to lend their support and shoulders.. to laugh, relive old memories..and hopefully they’ll see why this 50 something nature geek has always cherished birds.. and why she always will. I’ll be the one explaining as people mill around my area:

“What a colorful bird- it looks so exotic that it glows.. I’ve never seen a bird like this before, where did you take this photo?”

‘That is a male Scarlet Tanager- it winters in Central and South America, then migrates each spring to riparian forests in the U.S. Their numbers are declinging rapidly as we continue to harvest/remove the trees they need to live and breed in. Aren’t they beautiful? I took this photo from my own deck as it sang it’s robin-like song. They’re canopy dwellers and usually you see bright flashes of red as they work their way around tree tops in search of food and a mate. Unfortunately I don’t see/hear as many as I used to because they require large undisturbed tracts to live and breed in- and we’re tearing them down faster than they can reproduce. ‘

My goal is to light a few sparks- open a few minds. Share, communicate and try on my deepest level to show just how precious every single bird that is native to our country is… we don’t like to admit we’ve exterminated species- but we have. And once they’re gone, that’s it folks. Gone means forever.
I actually have neighbors that wouldn’t know a Pileated Woodpecker if it smacked them in the head. Hopefully after this weekend, a few more people will know a bit more about the birds that live right in their own space.. for their future literally lies in our hands and our ability to provide their needs. They ask for so little yet give us SO much. My ‘love of birds cup’ has always been full and it always will be, for it overflows into every aspect of my life in one form or another.

I raise my cup to yours today.. for no other reason than a simple love of birds. Long may they sing!