that’s what clyde said this morning when we threw open the front curtains to find swarms of red-breasted robins, finches, juncos, and sparrows racing through the air (one littlin’ opened up and was completely YELLOW inside). the sky was completely bursting with birds. the ground hopping. a dream come true. lovely birds everywhere!
my parents and grandfather are pretty big birdwatchers, and i’ve studied california birds in the occasional ornithology class—pretty intensively in sixth grade and later in college with my best friend and the heartwarming mr. swineheart to avoid some other science credit—but i only know enough to drive ed crazy. you know, when we’re driving or traveling, i love to say, “look! a rufous-sided towhee! a red-winged blackbird! wow, a snowy egret! and look at his golden slippers!” it really does excite me when i can identify a bird. once a great blue heron flew right over our neighborhood and i stopped breathing.
i don’t know what it is about birds, but they do fascinate me. my love for them went into total overdrive almost a year ago when i moved my office to our house’s “sunroom.” i watch them all day long now. i know their patterns (and am totally resisting keeping a daily log). i have binoculars permanently on my desk. i try to take pictures. clyde and i use my mom’s bird book all the time, trying to figure out each one we don’t know. every day i get a new surprise.
however, i don’t know enough about bird migration patterns to know why the robins are all here now. it was just yesterday i noticed that robins fly in packs. and that now is apparently the time for robin packs. i’m guessing it’s because it’s warmer here (well, not snowing) and freezing cold int lots of other places. i mean, we usually get a good taste of spring as early as february around here. so i guess they are moving through. soaking up yesterday’s light rain and today’s peeking sun. birds are like people—some are total home bodies and some just pass on through.
despite all the high robin activity this morning, my backyard scrub jays and mockingbird stayed on their posts and the mourning doves still worried. me and the boys ran window to window watching the magic. stay tuned. i’m hoping i caught a few pictures, but i was pretty excited so who knows?
and all i know is there’s nothing better or more hopeful feeling than watching your boy, all growing up before your eyes, set down his dinosaurs and gasp “beautiful!” to a window full of birds.
it’s because Clyde learns from mommy…how to appreciate beautiful things.
i agree. :) today we went for one last walk at the eno together and while i was busy looking down and snapping photos i caught a glimpse of a great blue heron swooping right past us. he was huge and was so close. why oh why wasn’t i looking up?? xo
i am obsessed with raptors. i have been begging mike to let me get a little red shoulder hawk. i don’t think the cats would mind, do you? :) it is smaller than a hippo, after all.
oh bird love! We get herons here quite a bit; last summer during a heat wave, there were tons of dragonflies at our local park, and a heron came by everyday and just walked slowly around chowing down. so cool! i love how your kids are getting into too!
We experienced a similar day today – Sarah, Elizabeth and I stood at the front window and watched at least 10 finch (or what I thought were finch) wander around underneath the window. I loved it :)