Always a stunner

Seeing movement in the juniper, raising binoculars, only to have this guy fill the field of view; it reminds me of reasons I still do this.

At times, I wonder if it is some form manifestation of obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Other times I believe it to be one thing that still makes sense to me in this quickly changing, often degrading, unnecessarily noisy, and disjointed world.

And so I hike. I listen. I see all movement. Most of the time it is branch-leaf-limb-grass-insect-reflection. Infrequently it is bird. Even less so, it is something like this:

This Canada Warbler was at Carleen Bright Arboretum, a place of work, on a day off.

There are moments I wonder if we even deserve the birds that are still left on this continent. In spite of the obstacles we have put on obstacles already endowed to them by natural forces they continue on. For those for whom they give a chance to notice, and in turn take that chance; it is an absolute privilege to view them on their ancient journey. To pull quick photos such as these, a luxury.

An active sprite of color, with its own very real concerns, crossing paths in an often otherwise graying world.

I look to my youngest nephew. Perhaps “we” haven’t done much lately to deserve birds; but “he”, he does.

What a tough year, and spring. Every year, every spring has been tough for migrating songbirds. Made even more difficult, often unnecessarily so, by we who now happen to find difficulty.

Walk in silence. See.