Pájaros. ¿Por qué pájaros? ¿Cómo nos obsesionamos tanto con ellos? A menudo me pregunto cómo llegué a obsesionarme tanto con los pájaros. ¿Por qué no con los aviones, los bolos o la lucha libre profesional?
Well, I do think there is something primordially satisfying about a connection to nature that transcends the human realm. Being able to put a name to a bird, recognize its flight pattern, and know its age y where it is going creates a powerful connection to the planet that feels deeper and more authentic than collecting postage stamps or memorabilia (which are fun and I also do).
Modern life has become so detached from the natural world. So much of what we experience is via third parties — television, radio, or (now mostly) our phones. It is so refreshing to watch an Osprey diving for a fish or a waxwing grabbing berries.
I find the simple things bring me the most joy. Consider a warbler, for example: a tiny being without need for money, clothes, complications. Yet there is so much to the life of this bird — a vast round-trip migration, a struggle to survive against what seem like huge odds, and yet a steely will to fly thousands of miles basically alone across unfamiliar terrain. And with no safety net. These are some of the things that create a sense of wonder for me when I see a wild bird.
