Saturday, December 12, 2009

A Cup, A Bird, A Ritual is Born

I didn't realize until yesterday, I've developed a pattern, a kind of ritual that separates the office work week from the days I pursue art and writing. And birds are an integral part of that ritual. In fact, they created it. (click images to enlarge)
It begins with picking up my favorite coffee-filled mug and setting out the bird feeders--a single plate of suet and sunflower seeds, and two hanging feeders. These are positioned on the edge of the patio just outside my door, easy to see, easy to hear birds approaching, easy to pick up my camera and step out the door...even in the brrrrrr cold we're having now.
Yesterday was one of those days. I got lost in it. One minute I was working on something, writing, sketching, making notes...the next, I hear a sound that pulls me out the door, camera in hand. I didn't come back in until I had lost the feeling in my fingers and toes. All I can say is, “the birds did it.”Their behavior and attitudes, their personalities, totally fascinate me. The bobbing of the wren's movements, the rowdy boldness of the titmouse, the king-presence of the mockingbird, the timid, invisible foraging of the sparrows, all so specific to each bird’s lifestyle and habits. Add to that, the delight of having them come so close to me, and I'm captive.

Yes, I'll be getting a bit anthropomorphic here. But it doesn't matter what we call it, it happens. We feed them, they become familiar with us, they come closer. And when this happens, I feel like I've just stepped into a Walt Disney movie.
Deeply focused on photographing a bird, I seldom move anything but the camera shutter, which is true for most photographers. And maybe that’s the key. Birds fly all around me, so close, I feel the wind of their flight against my cheek. Others hop toward me, when I expect the reverse, like this beautiful Chipping Sparrow who presented me with a breath-stopping moment. I knew I was not looking at a familiar sparrow and here he was, hopping right up to the camera, giving me all those cute inquisitive expressions. Were it not for the rowdy titmice, I think he/she would have hopped right up on the suet plate.
I've long practiced being still, from watching a honey bee crawl on my arm as a child to long hours listening to heart-felt stories in my office. Stillness and observation come naturally for me. And maybe that is all that’s required--enduring, predictable, non-intrusive behavior, coupled with the primary attraction of food and water. Aside from a giggle or two and my compulsion to talk to them occasionally, I'm sure the birds think the clicking of my camera shutter is my native language.
Can you interact so closely with birds and not adore them, want to protect them, feel curious about every aspect of their lives and their survival? I can’t. And for those who don’t have time or the inclination, I am happy to show you what they show me—curious faces, distinct personalities, perfectly adapted beaks and feet, an intricate beauty unsurpassed.
And how does my favorite coffee mug fit into all of this? Special memories are grounded in this mug--bird memories. Of Beeman’s Coffee Bar in Port Aransas, Texas, of beautiful endangered Whooping cranes wintering in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, of a laughing gull that wanted a bite of my cinnamon roll!

Put all together, this makes for a compelling ritual that I am likely to keep. Any favorite birding rituals in your life?
Bird images, top to bottom: 1) Carolina wren, 2) Blue Jay (enlarge image and check out the tuft of feathers covering his/her nare), 3) Tufted Titmouse, 4) Carolina wren, 5 & 6) Chipping Sparrow (new sparrow and yard bird for me), 7 & 8) Northern Mockingbird, 9) White-breasted Nuthatch.
Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #68 at Birdfreak.com to promote the conservation of our world's birds.

17 comments:

  1. Vickie, great birds and awesome photos. One of my rituals on the weekend is to fill all my birdfeeders, open the curtains in my dining room and kitchen and watch the birds that come to my feeders. I also have a cup coffee.

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  2. I do the same as often as I can with my cup of tea. Fill all the feeders and the birdbath, and then sit down to watch the show, or on the warmer days sit near them outside and try to catch some shots. Vickie you have captured the beauty of birds so eloquently in words and photos. Thanks!

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  3. What beautiful birds you get to enjoy and photograph at your feeders. Someimes I wish we too had harsh wintrs so i could feed the birds.

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  4. What an absolutely FABULOUS post! There is not a day that goes by that I don't sit and watch the birds on my back deck. In the winter - thru the sliding glass door - but still I watch them. They are so special to me. They have brought me peace in this troubled world.

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  5. I very much enjoyed seeing the birds at your table and smiled, my ritual is go and feed those outside and those at a local country park. I then just lose myself for hours :D
    Great shots

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  6. Such great photos--what personalities!

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  7. There is much for me to learn from your posts. I love the photos, and especially love the glimpse into your passionate appreciation for birds, tempered by stillness, that privileges you with such intimate communication with them.

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  8. Oh Vickie, I loved this tribute to your birds. They do become our friends, don't they? Just like human friends, we are happy to greet them when they come to see us, and we miss them when they are gone. My favorite birdy rituals, like several others here, revolves around feeding time. Of course I love to sit and watch them from inside, but also love spending a little bit of time with them outside, too, just after I've filled all the feeders. It's always interesting to see who will come in close and check me out, and maybe even squawk at me.

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  9. So so pretty. What lovely photographs and observations. I love birds and photograph them when I walk down street. I've taken to video-ing them too now with my new camera. Will eventually post on my blog.....I never thought about getting a birdfeeder before cos I live in an apartment, but I might try it to bring the birds closer.

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  10. great photos of your little friends and nice post too :) i agree..i get very attached to them also. I studied golden-cheeked warblers for three years and i swear individuals had certain personalities. such fun! thanks for the post!

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  11. Vickie, wonderfully written and beautifully photographed! I totally get where you are coming from, though I think I need to start my own ritual! I usually get up in the morning and before I have eaten breakfast or gotten dressed I am filling bird feeders and feeding my pets! I have been trying to do a bit more painting myself. Congrats on the chipping sparrow! You have wonderful images and experiences to work from!

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  12. Vickie you really know how to touch the heart and mind. Your photographs and stories of your backyard friends are absolutely unbelievable.

    Of course they all have their personalities and you have captured them exquisitely, but the shot of the Carolina Wren peeking around the tree is priceless!

    I suppose I have a similar ritual as far as watching and photographing birds from my back porch in the winter. In the summer, I set a chair out under my oak trees, amongst the feeders and enjoy the show.

    One of my favorite things to do, as I go about my everyday chores around the house, is talk to my birds, especially the very chatty Oak Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch. If only we knew what they were saying.

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  13. I'm catching up on the blogs - I appreciate your reflections & the role of birds in art and writing - also the fluffing up we do on the inside, even as the birds fluff outside. The snows in the NE are here to stay - red berries (& red birds) are brilliant contrasts in the winter landscape as your photo captures

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  14. Vickie...I loved this post. I get lost in the birds too.....sitting still and observing is part of me. That first photo of the Chipping Sparrow is priceless. love it! (Ours are long gone for the winter...)

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  15. Vickie, all these great photos (and stories) are worth freezing of hands. :-)

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  16. Vickie, beyond belief great photography! I loved your post and the photos!!

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  17. Hi Vickie, I smiled to myself when I saw that second mockingbird photo - I've seen that look before! I put out a single scoop of peanuts in the shell every morning. I had 5 cardinals on my "bird lounge" this morning, followed quickly by a blue jay and a titmouse. Since I work from home, I really have to keep my birdwatching limited to the length of time it takes for my coffeemaker to make me a cup of coffee. Otherwise, I'd be at the window or outside all day instead of working!

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