Isolation is for the Birds
Like nearly everyone in the world right now, my life has been effected by the current epidemic that is COVID-19. But if I am completely honest, it is not doom and gloom for me, and I know this places me solidly in the “extremely lucky” category. I know many, many people are going through nightmares, and I feel for them. If I can do anything for anyone, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
For me, the changes have mostly been minor. My main job issued laptops and our entire office now works from home, and my secondary job was closed as a non-essential business. For the most part, I enjoy being home and having more free time – I can watch the bird feeders all day, my kitchen is ten feet away, and I can sleep in until five minutes before work and take my shower at lunch. I’ve gotten a ton more reading done, although the number of titles read makes it seem like I am not reading at all! Bigger books, less of them each month. Page count is through the roof, though. But it’s not all rose-colored glasses. My physical activity level is lowered – even with forcing myself to take a daily walk – and with so many distractions at home, it’s not always easy to remain productive.
Everything ELSE in life has been cancelled or postponed. Events I had hoped to go to have been cancelled for the year. Friends and club meetings are being placed on hold, in order to maintain our safety through social distancing.
Unfortunately, my birding has almost entirely revolved around my bird feeders. Many of the parks are closed, and even if they weren’t, it’s not worth the risk of getting infected since most of the open parks are busier than they ever were.
But watching the feeders has not been boring, that’s for sure! I’ve watched a pair of Eastern Bluebirds court each other. I’ve watched a male Northern Cardinal feed sunflower seeds to his beautiful lady-friend, even though she was sitting at the same feeder he was. I’ve chased off the loud and intrusive European Starlings so the smaller songbirds could get to the feeders. I’ve watched the American Goldfinch colors pop seemingly overnight. I’ve watched a pair of Carolina Wrens build a beautiful little basket-nest. I’ve watched woodpeckers and sparrows, robins and finches, juncos and doves, as they’ve fed, bickered, and sung their little hearts out. And it has made sitting in my front room, or sitting on my balcony, all the more enjoyable.
And my camera has always been with me, so in an effort to spread some natural beauty across the webs, here’s a scattering of photos I have captured.
