Birds and words

About a month ago, Kyle and I were at a dinner party where we met a couple who're avid birdwatchers. They talked about rescuing wounded eagles, stuffing dead birds in their freezer, traveling to San Francisco to see the parrots of Telegraph Hill and taking daily bike rides around town to observe local birds. I was fascinated by their stories. When I asked them how one gets into birdwatching, they told me, d'uh, start watching the birds around you.

So, I started peaking out of our windows a bit more and, low and behold, there they were! Little birds, singing their butts off... right under my nose. The cardinals were the first ones that I was able to spot out because of their beautiful red feathers and punk style.


During our Christmas trip to St. Louis, Kyle pointed out the bluejays on his mom's porch. There were so many of them! Beautiful blue coloring and cocky attitudes: chasing other birds away from the food we'd left for them.


I already thought I was sort of hooked when Kyle presented me with the most awesomely unexpected holiday present ever: BINOCULARS! He's had them since he was a little kid but, needless to say, hasn't been using them much in the last twenty years or so. Now they're mine!


Exciting! Obviously, I am curious to learn about the birds in my backyard but also, I am looking forward to practicing sitting still and being patient: the two most important skills for a birdwatcher. Or any human being, really.

***
Photo of the cardinal by Timothy K. Hamilton
Photo of the bluejay by Bruce Bodjack