Lord of Birds, please make me a better birder.
Where there are birds, let me find them,
Where there is birdsong, let me hear it,
Where there is a nest, let me shield it,
Where birds are hungry, let me feed them,
Where they are in danger, let me protect them.
To enlarge a photo, click on it. To read its caption, hover the cursor over it.
O Maker of Feathers, please grant that I may be
Fleeter of foot to find birds without flushing them,
Keener of ear to hear their heavenly music,
Sharper of eye to see all their beauty,
Astuter of perception to understand nature’s wonderful ways.
For it is through birds that we grasp nature’s miracles,
It is through birds that we discover a meaning of life,
And it is through birds that we find hope for the future.
Freely and shamelessly based on the Peace Prayer by St. Francis.
All bird photos were taken in Colorado Springs in January and February 2020, except for the Greater Yellowlegs, which was photographed in Pueblo, where it seems to have overwintered, rather than farther south. The topmost photo shows a White-breasted Nuthatch (Carolinakleiber).
What a beautiful paraphrase of “The peace prayer”, Tanja, and in perfect harmony with your images. The one of the great horn owl is awesome, but it took a while before I discovered the well camouflaged owl. My first thought was a big cat, leisurely resting in the nest. I also showed the photo to my husband, and all he saw was a stoat in its white winter coat (that white string of snow)!
Best wishes,
Meggie
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I’m so glad you enjoyed my prayer adaptation, Meggie.
And I think it’s a great testament to the owl’s ability to blend into its surroundings that you and your husband had difficulty making it out. Let’s hope the clutch of eggs will hatch and the owlets fledge successfully. 🦉
Warmest wishes,
Tanja
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By reading your wonderful adaption of the prayer, I would wish that many people become birders!
Kindest regards,
Christa
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That would make me very happy, Christa. May your wish come true. 🙂
All the best,
Tanja
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Beautifully put, Tanja. As a keen British birder who likes to spend time pursuing his hobby in the US, I would add this postscript: May the good Lord give me the patience, perseverance and observational acumen to distinguish between the various species of sparrows that adorn that fair continent of North America [now that really would be a miracle! 🙂]
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Thank you, Mr. P.
And I can wholeheartedly second your wish for the acumen to distinguish between the various sparrows of this and other continents (and warblers, and shorebirds, and gulls…😊)
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Agree totally about warblers, waders (our term for shorebirds) and gulls, three more groups of birds that often have us baffled and bemused.
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My problem is that I see most of those birds once or twice a year, and I can’t remember from one year to the next. One of these days I hope to travel more across the country with the main purpose to get to know as many North American bird species as possible.
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Yes, we have the same problem too. Also, these birds rarely sit still long enough to give us time to properly absorb their finer details. And then there’s the problem of male / female variations, seasonal variations, adult / juvenile variations and even some regional variations. So much still to learn! 🙂
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Exactly. May the learning never end!
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Here’s more on St. Francis and birds:
https://www.learnreligions.com/saint-francis-assisi-sermon-to-birds-124321
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Thank you, Steve.
I remember learning about St. Francis as a teenager and his habit of talking to birds and other animals have always appealed to me.
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Greetings. In your region, which months are the best for bird watching? That is, when are there the most birds?
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That’s a great question, Neil. I would have to say that during spring and fall migration the variety of species is the highest, as migratory birds are traveling from their winter to their summering grounds, or vice versa. Those are exciting times during which birders often see new species. 😊
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Amen. Birds have taught me to shut up and listen and to stop moving and watch🪶
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Very true, Cathy.
Keep enjoying our feathered friends.
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Amen, amen! Beautiful.
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I’m so glad you can relate, Laurie.
Thank you!
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Beautiful words and awesome photos. That snipe has a great expression! 🙂
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Thank you, Lisa. It’s a always a special outing when I come across a snipe, can take a photo, and get away without it having taken off!
Happy birding.
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That is the truth too! Happy birding to you as well! 🙂
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Liebe Tanja,
einen schönen Reigen von Vögeln zeigst Du uns hier, begleitet von einem bemerkenswert naturverbundenen Gebet.
Diesmal spricht mich der weißbrüstige Carolinakleiber am meisten an.
Herzlichen Dank für diese feinsinnige Federlese!
Gutenachtgruß von Ulrike 🙂
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Deine warmen Worte beglücken mich sehr, liebe Ulrike.
Mit diesem Kleiber habe ich einige Minuten verbracht, denn er hat sein sonst ziemlich reges Treiben eingestellt und einfach mal in der Sonne eine kleine Pause eingelegt und mir erlaubt, seine liebenswerte Persönlichkeit mit einigen Bildern einzufangen.
Gefiederte Grüße zurück,
Tanja
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A beautiful prayer and excellent photos, Tanja! Thank you for sharing these.
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Thank you, Jan, your kind words are much appreciated. 😊
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I love your great horned owl nest, Tanja!! They nest near us but I can only hear their deep Woo Woo as they hunt for skunks. It is a beautiful prayer – I was so worried about our little birdies that our garden was covered in food during our deep freeze in Texas. We have since cleared it up and covered the garden in fresh mulch and it is a little warmer.
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Thank you, Kerry.
Seeing an owl always makes my day, they are so charismatic.
I, too, was worried about all the birds caught in the midst of the recent brutal cold. It helped that you and other animal lovers fed them.
Best,
Tanja
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I got a real fright today when walking around the pond. A large white egret flew right above my head and croaked at me! She must have been roosting in the tree…
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That sounds exciting, Kerry, you might have surprised the egret. They get defensive around their nests, but unless humans step near a nest on the ground or climb a nesting tree, most species would not attack us.
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I did surprise her, Tanja, because I walk like a tracker. She is used to my presence because I walk around the pond regularly. The ducks wag their tails when I chat to them – it means the same as dogs wagging. The Kill Deer are the noisiest little birds. Two of them are nesting at the water’s edge. I wasn’t afraid of her just the sudden movement and noise – I guess she felt exactly the same…😃
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It sounds like a lovely little walk, Kerry. I hope you will keep making new acquaintances.
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Zauberhafte Vögel, die du so schön eingefangen und mit deinen Worten begleitet hast. Die Bekassinen finde ich immer besonders niedlich. Schön, mal wieder von dir zu lesen. LG Almuth
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Herzlichen Dank, liebe Almuth. Mit den Bekassinen geht es mir wie Dir auch, ich sehe sie immer mit großer Freude.
Liebe Grüße,
Tanja
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Sie haben eine niedliche Figur. Ich sah noch nie welche. Irgendwie verbinde ich sie immer mit dem Meer, aber das stimmt ja wohl gar nicht. Die anderen Vögel sind aber ebenso niedlich. LG Almuth
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Jeder Vogel hat so etwas ganz Besonderes!
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Ja 🙂
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There’s no question in my mind that St. Francis would be pleased by your revision. It’s lovely, and filled with the same sense of peace and confidence as the original. The American Dipper is a new one for me; it’s quite handsome. And I found my first Wilson’s Snipes this year — quite by accident, but no less delightful for that.
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I’m glad you approve, Linda, and not surprised that you relate.
Congratulations on finding the snipe. It’s one of the birds I had in mind when I asked for stealthiness as I often flush it, which I hate doing.
Happy birding.
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A prayer close to my heart,Tanja.
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I’m not surprised, V.J.
Thank you!
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You are welcome!
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Beautiful prayer, Tanja ❤️
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I’m glad you think so, Donna. Thank you!
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Ein ganz besonderer Frühlingsgruß von Dir! 🌞
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Das freut mich sehr, liebe Simone. Herzlichen Dank.
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A beautiful prayer, my friend. Hope you are doing well.
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Thank you, Takami.
Best wishes back,
Tanja
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Love your Birder’s Prayer, and the Nuthatch appears very reverent!
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I appreciate your kind comment, Liz.
And thank you for pointing out a little detail about the nuthatch that had escaped me. 😊
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so beautiful bird!
Hi Tanja, have a great day!
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Thank you. I wish you the same.
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Hi Tanja! After a long break, yours was one of the first blogs I looked up, and wow, your poem is Absolutely Wonderful! Just what I needed! Hope you are well. All is fine here. I spent the Winter on some other artistic pursuits, but am hoping to get back to my posting in a slightly different way. Cheers to you! Julie
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Hi Julie,
How nice to hear from you. I took a long break as well until 2 weeks ago, but enjoy being back to blogging.
I’m glad to hear you are doing well. Physically I am, too, but I find it hard not to be thoroughly disheartened by what is going on in the world.
But spring is ready to spring and I’m ready to be charmed by it.
Kindest regards,
Tanja
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Ha! Just noticed this note from you! Clearly, I am not quite back in the swing of things yet…
Yes, I am totally disheartened, as well, but hoping we are coming on to slightly better times.
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Let’s try to keep up our spirits! ❤
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Yup. It was a Spring -like day here in Massachusetts…very uplifting!🐛🌻🌼🌈🐇🐦
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I’m glad you had a good day, Julie. Enjoy your weekend.
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A beautiful innocent bird with innocent prayers. Love the picture
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I appreciate your kind comment. Thank you!
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Love it – I’m entirely with you on understanding (and appreciating) nature’s wonderful ways.
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Thank you, Ann. I’m not surprised that you are able to relate. 😊
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