Blogs

From the informational to the philosophical, from chatty public service announcements to unhinged tirades, from rehabber gab-fests to shameless book promotions … years of blogs, first on The Crooked Wing and then on 10,000 Birds, covered a lot of  wildlife ground.

Tri-Colored Revelations

I was striding through the beautiful January woods, obsessing about every bad thing that had ever happened to me, vowing bloody vengeance on mine enemies, plotting the downfall of civilization – you know, the usual – when suddenly I heard wingbeats.

Of all the music in the world, my ears are the most finely tuned to wingbeats. Since birds are normally hurtling either toward or past my face I can usually gauge the bird’s size, velocity, and distance without actually having to see it. This one sounded like it was large, traveling at a good clip, and about six inches from my ear.

In a flash I came up with two options.  Either: 1) the Higher Power, fed up with my interior diatribe, had sent someone down to fetch me; or 2) the resident goshawk, who on several occasions had tried to behead me for treading too close to her nest, had seized the opportunity for an off-season ambush.

I glanced to the side just in time to see a Pileated woodpecker soar over my shoulder, do the woodpecker dip, and disappear into the woods. I don’t know if it was male or female, as I only saw a brilliant flash of red, white, and black, and then its back as it flew away. 

 My jaw dropped; I probably shouted, “Oh, wow!” or something equally clever. I spotted a dead hemlock riddled with holes. This amazing bird must have been on the tree right in front of me, and I was too preoccupied to notice. People  – well, birders, at least – tend to fall to their knees at the sight of these creatures, and I just walked on by. What a bonehead, the woodpecker must have thought. I’d better teach her a lesson.

My mind cleared, the mayhem fell away. The woods are filled with wonder.

One of my dear friends makes up fortune cookie-style sayings. In honor of her, I will give it a try. 

Appreciate the beauty of life before it collides with your face.

For more blogs go to 10,000 Birds, scroll down to their search engine, and type my name.