Before I moved to Corpus Christi a little over 5 years ago, I would say I had an appreciation of birds. Once I arrived in “America’s Birdiest City,” my appreciation grew into a passion, or what my husband would tell you is an obsession.
The variety that we are privileged to experience here is not something to be taken for granted. Songbirds, shorebirds, waterbirds, raptors and so much more visit us and grace us with their uniqueness and beauty. How can you not become a bird enthusiast!
When I see a bird for the first time—or even better yet, capture a photo of one for the first time—each one is like opening a new package on Christmas morning. Each one is a gift. I see colors, hear sounds, and observe behaviors as if I am experiencing all of it for the first time in life. In those moments, I feel as though I have bonded in a unique and meaningful way with Mother Nature, of whom I am in awe. She is sharing secrets with me. And they are intimate, and they are wonderful.
Perhaps what I love about being a birder the most is that it provides refuge unlike I have ever experienced before. When I stand outside in the sun with a gentle breeze blowing (or in sideways rain with the wind roaring—anything for the birds) my camera at the ready, looking for one of those gifts, the rest of the world disappears. The world is nothing more than me, that place, that moment, and the possibility of seeing a new bird, a familiar bird doing something new, or just a friend doing the usual thing. Just thinking about it makes me smile with a sense of calmness as I sit here typing.
Serenity is good during any time of life, but perhaps even more so now. Moments where we can truly forget the anxiousness, the nervousness, and the confusion of our current state are deeply needed. So, I invite you all to step outside, even if for a moment, and consciously listen for and look for a bird. Take another moment to appreciate it and consider it. I promise you will have a smile and experience a sense of clam without any effort. The return on investment is incredible!
In the meantime, please allow me to share with you some of my bird photos—my respite—from the past two months. I hope they provide you some inspiration.
