How about that! I actually saw a cerulean warbler. But it wouldn’t have happened without some help. At Lost Valley Trail in Weldon Spring, MO, I ran into a more experienced birder who went by the name, Rad. It was he who could identify the song of the Cerulean Warbler when we were in the deeper part of the forest. Once I could recognize the song, I just sat down until I could spot movement in the upper canopy and then focus in with my binoculars.
But that’s not all. Over the past few weeks, I saw for the first time the following: Cerulean Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Worm Eating Warbler, Yellow Throated Warbler, Yellow-bellied Chat, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Ovenbird, Eastern Bluebird, Swainson’s Thrush, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Red-Eyed Vireo, Killdeer, American Kestrel, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Oriole, Northern Flicker, Rose-breasted Grossbeak, and my favorite, the Pileated Woodpecker. These twenty-one hardly compare with experienced birders who might identify a hundred or more on a single day. But it’s a start!
It’s been fun and rejuvenating to reconnect to nature. Pope John Paul wrote “Our very contact with nature has a deep restorative power; contemplation of its magnificence imparts peace and serenity” (“For the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1 January 1990). He spoke of peace with God the Creator and Peace with all of creation. Discovering the beauty of creation and our connection to it will be something that we’ll explore in future posts.
Concordia Theology » Budding Birder Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 7:55 pmVisit Concordia Theology » Budding Birder
[...] More here: Budding Birder [...]
cordell Says:
May 29th, 2009 at 2:30 pmVisit cordell
Well done, Prof! That’s quite a list of sightings in your first few weeks! Keep your eyes alert for the finches — both gold and purple, the martins, black-capped chickadees and when down in the river bottoms — the snowy-white egrets and (my favorite) the great blue heron (biggest wingspan of any bird in Missouri). I’m still waiting for my first sighting of a pileated this spring, they run a close second to the great blue in my book. All the best as you continue to take heed to our Lord’s command in Matthew 6:26!
toe nail fungus remedies Says:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:05 pmVisit toe nail fungus remedies
toe nail fungus remedies…
Very nice article and thoughts. Looks like you know what’s going on. Will stop again….
Sammy Peyatt Says:
February 10th, 2010 at 2:33 amVisit Sammy Peyatt
Congratulations on your prolific work here. I must admit I have popped in a read a good number of your blogs but I have no idea how to post a response over there, so I’ll tell you now how good you are at describing the stuff your at - I must admit I find it insightful to read your blogging. Keep up the good work.