I’m hooked, as many of you predicted on my bird meditations. The first thing I do in the morning is stand by the living room window and wait patiently. I am sure some birds know me and give me a good stare before graving some seed. I wave at them, and they no longer fly off so quickly, as long as I don’t get too close to the window. It’s a new thing for me, but something I already cherish. We’ve decided to keep the feeder up for most of the Spring so I can continue this lovely new start of the day: rain, snow, or sun.

As they get to know me, the birds like to look at me as much as I want to look at them. They need to see some patience, or they take off. Birds, who are rarely calm themselves, expect calm from the people who presume to take their pictures. Finding the right time, posture, cameras, and lenses took me months, but I’m always getting closer. This is so much better and more meaningful than watching the dread news.

(The bird above loves to sit a bit and stare at me. I like to stare back. We are getting to know one another.)

They also enrich my spiritual work; they are more fascinating, calming, and intelligent than I thought. Their intelligence surprises me, and their energy is beyond my imagination. Most of my birds are hit-and-run creatures. They sweep in, grab a seed, and zoom out. We see our birdseed in some of the next and find it in the trees in the nests. The robins don’t come to the feeders, but some new Spring birds have. As usual, I don’t know their names and can’t remember all of them. No, I don’t want to get a unique bird app; it’s not how I want to spend my time now. I’d rather take photos of them than know their names. It will come. If I don’t limit these new interests and passions, I’ll have no time to read, research, or write. I’d spend all day looking at pictures of birds and flowers. I’d instead rather take the photos myself. I’m not marrying my Iphone.

Sometimes, they astonish me with their beauty and their dance.

The woodpeckers are beautiful birds. They love seeds as much as wood trunks.

Birds are hit and run; they never stay in one spot long. Astonishing energy.

The sun offers beautiful silhouettes.

The males are changing colors to find a mate.