Long before I had ever heard the titular expression, I was able to relate to its sentiment. If you have ever had a flock of bluebirds descend upon you, with their ethereal color and soft vocalizations, like messengers from a more gentle and beautiful realm, you will, too. And we are not alone. Chinese, European, … Continue reading Bluebirds Of Happiness
The title is a direct (if slightly old-fashioned) translation of a German saying, “April, April, macht was er will” (the emphasis being on the second syllable of Apríl, which is why I spelled it with an accent mark). The month with the reputation of being fickle, of doing what it wants with regard to the … Continue reading Apríl, Apríl, Does What It Will
Before an etymological search for the origins of the bird name phoebe, I suspected it was related to a deity from Greek mythology, or to one of Jupiter’s moons in some labyrinthine way. As it turns out, it is an onomatopoeic appellation, based on the Eastern Phoebe’s song, which has been variously transcribed as “fee-ah-bee,” … Continue reading Phoebe
Birders are strange, at least in the eyes of non-birders. We have birds on our brains around the clock, straining our ears for their vocalizations from the first waking moment until we drift off to sleep (there could always be an owl hooting in the middle of the night). We are forever alert to winged … Continue reading Milestone 100
Dear Avocet, When I perused last year’s photo archive and found a series of portraits of you, my heart went into a happy little dance. You blessed us with your presence at a local lake during fall migration for one full golden October week. Only you know where you had come from and where you … Continue reading American Avocet
tanja britton 