This morning I went to see the baby that we photographed 8 days ago. I fully expected the fledgling to have taken off, but he’s still there! I arrived about noon and his parents arrived at the same time. So I was able to watch him get fed. It was an amazing sight.
In that same tree is another nest with two chicks in it. Their parents also arrived and it was amazing to see the chicks squawking greetings. The noise was deafening as the siblings yelled for their food, bickered with each other and pushed each other with their necks for the right to first food. Both parents fed them and it was wild to observe.
I am new at this and I am finding myself looking for the same birds. Nearly every morning I check the GBH nesting site. And I never tire of the Western Meadowlarks and Horned Larks that I see where I walk daily – listening to them sing, and watching their mating behaviors. This morning I listened to a magnificent Meadowlark standing on top of a small bush – singing his heart out.
I have downloaded the lists of all the California birds and I notice that I am not particularly driven to see “new” birds, although I do enjoy discovering, identifying and checking them off the list. As it happens, this morning I drove my car a half mile in soggy sand because I was chasing what turned out to be my first Little Blue Heron. It was wonderful and new. But I think it is in my nature to take things slow and deep, to get near and close and quiet. This is how I am learning to see and enjoy the layers of seeing. It soothes me and calms me and I am grateful. (This post was written in March 07.)
