Wayside_Wisdom Heard Along the Way
 |
BIRD WATCHING AND LISTENING
Bird mothers apparently do not teach their young that "its better to be seen and not heard"! Walking the trails of the birding center or watching quietly at the feeding station, we see only a few bright green jays, gaudy Altamira orioles, clumsy chachalacas, a darting titmouse, a flit of a hummingbird, and a northern cardinal. But all around us and above us in the treetops we hear the sounds of hidden and unseen winged wonders: squeaks, squawks, whistles, coarse calls and melodious songs. Strolling part of the Gulf shore birding trail, we watched stately snowy egrets and blue herons strut, brown and white pelicans dive-bombing for their lunch, and flashy roseate spoonbills combing the sand for delicacies. But, around us all, a chorus of splashing seagulls, chattering mockingbirds, and complaining grackles! "To be heard and not seen" means safety and freedom for these feathered phantoms. For us earthbound humans, it means blessing for both the ears and the heart.
15 Jan 2009 - mshr (Click on pictures to enlarge; click on BACK to return to the narrative.) |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Photos © Bruce E. Rosenberger |
||