Enchanting Song
For me, there's nothing quite as enchanting as the melody of a Wood Thrush's song in the background while I'm birding. Being intentionally sentimental, its early morning phrases beckon an invitation to enter the woods for a few hours of exploration and discovery.
Often when leaving my apartment in the morning before birding, I change my FaceBook status to reflect this activity. In doing so, my intent isn't to proselytize the pastime of birding to my non-birder FaceBook friends, but I managed to attract the following comment:
"I have no interest in birding other than those that cross my path while I'm persuing [sic] other pleasures... Birds are like the colorfull [sic] sprinkels [sic] on cut out cookies: really nice, I'd like to know what they are, I'd miss them a lot of they weren't there, but it's the cookie (or the frosting, in my case) that's of real interest."
I confess I was a little dumbstruck when I first read this. What does it mean? Is it the woods that are of real interest, versus that which inhabits luscious green canopies? I suppose the enjoyments of nature's aesthetics are often subjective and sentimentalized, but many of us who are birders also take a great interest in objectifying fauna and flora: mammals, amphibians, butterflies, dragonflies, plants, wildflowers, etc.
Does it help or increase one's enjoyment to know and document all the details, such as the phenology, behaviors, habitats, and food webs? Are we just stuffing pretty cookies in our mouths, or are we being mindful of the sprinkles, frosting, and the whole dang cookie? In truth, it's largely the decline of cookie acreage that's causing there to be fewer sprinkles. If we don't also see the forest for the birds beyond being merely decorative, when we want those sprinkles on our cookies, there may not be any left to enjoy.
"One who reviews pleasant experiences and puts them on record increases the value of them to himself; he gathers up his own feelings and reflections, and is thereby better able to understand and to measure the fullness of what he has enjoyed."
-- Viscount Grey of Fallodon – The Charm of Birds
Link: Bird Conservation - Mortality
Wood Thrush © 2009 Mike McDowell
10 Comments:
"Somewhere Over The Rainbow."I saw the rainbow in sprinkles yesterday after work. They dropped by singular and in groups. The unexpectedness of it all made me giddy. I didn't want the enchantment to end. I guess to each his/her own. Good luck birding this weekend if you venture out.
What a beautiful picture.
I, too, listened to this enchanting song today.
Here's Robert Frost's account of his encounter with a thrush. It's a bit more haunting than our daytime reveries.
Come In
As I came to the edge of the woods,
Thrush music -- hark!
Now if it was dusk outside,
Inside it was dark.
Too dark in the woods for a bird
By sleight of wing
To better its perch for the night,
Though it still could sing.
The last of the light of the sun
That had died in the west
Still lived for one song more
In a thrush's breast.
Far in the pillared dark
Thrush music went --
Almost like a call to come in
To the dark and lament.
But no, I was out for stars;
I would not come in.
I meant not even if asked;
And I hadn't been.
Hi Mike,
for me, I find that continually trying to digiscope or videoscope, get a good view, and generally getting my head involved in the process tends to detract from the experience while "out in the woods". and it is important for me to also take time to not do any of that stuff.
but then again, as your quote says, doing all these things tends to add value to the experience (on later reflection), and - at the very least - gives me a great excuse to get out in to the mountains.
I believe I spend more time outdoors because of all my pass-times...
That Wood Thrush photo is stunning, btw
Happy birding
Dale
http://alpinebirds.blogspot.com
Dale,
There are many days, such as today, when I don't carry my digiscoping rig into the field. As a result, I generally see and hear more. Today was no exception, as I observed 23 warbler species at Pheasant Branch Conservancy.
Cheers,
Mike M.
Mike, what a beautiful entry. And I appreciate Cathy's pointing out the Frost poem.
Robert Aitken, the great American Zen master, used the song of the thrush as a kind of metaphor or doorway to the authentic total experience we think of as enlightenment. I have not heard it yet. But the other day we saw an indigo bunting in our yard, a first, and I used your photo on my blog today.
Jeanne
Dalai G.
Regarding use of my images:
"My current policy on image use is to never give them away for any purpose without some form of compensation. This includes all publications, educational software, web uses and power point presentations. Unless some form of payment is mentioned in your request, I will not respond. I do not photograph birds in order to make a living income, but I know many photographers that do. By giving away my images I devalue their time, expenses and great work. Thank you for your understanding."
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Please do not hot-link images, as that takes up my bandwidth. I'd prefer that you copy the image, edit it for size, and then upload it to your own server. I would really appreciate it that people ask permission before using any of my images.
Thanks,
Mike M.
I think, too, that we need to recognize that even if we're not interested in (insert faunal group here), everything is interconnected. The forest would not exist as it does now if the birds disappear - whether for their seed dispersal, pest control, or other roles they play in the ecosystem. So although one's interest may solely be in walking through the forest and enjoying the experience, there is some importance in appreciating all the creatures that live in it and make the forest possible.
It's less like sprinkles on a cookie than it is the frosting layer in a layer cake - it seems you can remove it without any problem, but aside from just losing the appealing taste and appearance, you also compromise the integrity of the cake as a whole. All you need to do is trip as you're carrying the cake out to the birthday kid and your top layer is on the floor; and when you cut a piece out, the piece falls apart.
I'm enjoying your wonderful bird blog and all your delightful pictures! Great pics! I found you through Alan's Cyberspace Dawdler site.
Chris
My favorite bird song!
I'm mystified by that comment--I don't even understand what it means.
Great Blog,I like the Digiscoping information and advice which I find very helpfull.
Thankyou.
John.
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