Just a thought for this Saturday evening...
I often find myself looking at other people’s lists on eBird and the listserv
and thinking “Wow! How did they see all that?!? I was there, too, and only saw
blank, blank, and blank!”. It can be discouraging. So, as I found myself
feeling anxious a few days ago about everything I felt like I was missing
during migration, I decided to swing by Clapp, by myself, and at the “wrong”
time of day. It was fantastic. Even though I didn’t have a long list or see
rarities, I found myself being regrounded in the delight of spending time with
the birds that I was seeing. I find the most joy in watching a bird and
realizing that I am spending part of its life with it. Many of the birds we
have right now are on a long and dangerous journey and I am privileged to get
to spend a few quiet moments with them. Since then, I have had two very nice
days of birding at Clapp, but I don’t think they would have had the same impact
without the realization that I can’t control what myself and others see, but I
can choose to appreciate the birds that I do find.
Jennifer
Jennifer Miller
Lubbock, TX
(o,o)
/)_)
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