Birds are magical creatures that can effortlessly take flight, and thus show so easily what it is to be free. We humans who would like to be birds, are trapped in our bodies.
What a sweet tribute to our fine, feathered friends, including those amazing songbirds known as the Eagles. Ah yes, like their namesake, our dear Eagles sure did soar and bask in the Light. Hotel C is indeed, quite a mystical song if one has ears to hear. I too, saw them perform live on the Hotel C tour - their performance every bit as amazing as their superlative recordings - consummate musicians. Magical it was. To top it all off - from my perch in the front row - I saw Don Felder wink at me - I kid you not! Ha! My 16 year old heart took flight!
At the venue I attended, there was one ticket price and there were no seats! First to arrive would be closest to the stage and I showed up hours before concert time! So fun.
I love birds, too! I am honored to share a name with one. I would love to fly like an Eagle, explore like a Raven, and build a nest like birds do! I wrote about my experience with birds in my newsletter, too. Birds are fascinating- they are such great partners and parents- I love to observe them and talk with them!
Such a beautiful essay, and I agree 100% with you, Perry. I love birds too, love watching them, lobe listening to them, and love learning from them. They have deep spiritual significance as divine messengers, if only we would listen to their message or sign. I always wished I could fly, like a bird, away from the things that weigh me down.. And also, to see things from afar is to see the bigger picture (be less self-absorbed, perhaps). The closest I ever came to flying was when I went paragliding.. It was THE most exhilarating feeling. 🙏🙂❤
Paragliding seems the closest to a bird flying that a human without wings or feathers can imitate. Soaring and looking down must have delivered feelings of freedom.
Beautiful: the calls of the Canada Geese are comforting and familiar, their honks a symphony of sound I look forward to every year, a ritural so kind and soft I need no othet. I get on my knees not to repent, but to be close to the birds when they land.
This is just stupendous! So much truth and love. You reminded me of a cockatiel I once rescued, his name was Hansleigh. My late husband was especially bonded to him, Hansleigh perched on his shoulder many times throughout the day. When he preened, we would call out to each other, "Hansleigh is cleaning his long feathers!" and we'd stop to watch and marvel at his exceptional beauty and personality. Thank you for writing this. Birds are a sacred gift that I never take for granted.
I agree—birds are just marvelous. Even simply on the basis of their ability to fly, they are so different and seemingly so much freer than us humans. What’s not to love?
Wonderful essay, Perry. Although, I suspect that Arya with his incredible bird brain was the source of inspiration.:) Love the message of freedom and flight.
I feel the same way about birds. We have so much to learn from them. I live in the PNW, so there are lots of wild birds, even in the city. I love to watch them, even the pigeons!
"As I am fascinated with the bird now in front of me, acting every much his bird self, his bird being, and not with any noticeable sense of self-consciousness." ~ Yes! While we are 'prisoners of our own device'.
I've been thinking along those same lines lately. The freedom of birds, 4 legged animals, and all sentient beings in the natural world ~ apart from humans ~ to be themselves with the greatest ease. Will we ever learn?
That's a great line about being prisoners of our own device and most poignant to our condition. And not just own condition but also the conditions we create for the Nature around us and birds. That is a sad statistic about the loss of 3 billion number of birds in North America since 1977.
These days, I find myself appreciating each glimpse of birds in flight and hearing a chirp or call. I live about 15 minutes from the Ottawa River and regularly see Ring-billed Gulls flying nearby past my windows. Being 6 stories up, they're a sight to see and admire as they glide past the windows of my apartment. I could spend the entire day watching these gulls fly past. They are such a joy to watch and learn from.
I love birdsong; it makes me smile and feel life is worth living. I love seeing birds of prey (mainly kites here) soaring high; their freedom makes me feel freer too.
Avian friends, sky soarers known to carry messages to the gods. What’s not to like? Hummingbird to condor and a shame th dodo bird extinct as well as many tropical birds in Hawaiian isles. I read it was due to feral cats . Another Darwinian experiment.
There’s many stories to write. Inspiration arrives with tales I’ve witnessed. The pen will wait only so long and then rests on a desk forlorn for being neglected.
I like your story about cockatiel. I once had a budgie parakeet, not the same but loved it’s chirps. I’d like a more 1 on 1 story about your relationship with birds. Anon for now. Tout a l’heure .
For as long as I can remember, I've loved birds. I feel close to them. I bird watch and I have birds as pets. I volunteer for two exotic bird rescues and have gone and "fetched" them for the rescue. I feel like I am their advocate and in return the calm my heart.
I feel the same way, that I have been put on this Earth to help care for birds in.my small way. But they really help me so much more by providing me sanity and serenity. I would love to volunteer for exotic bird rescues or rehabs. This sounds like such rewarding work.
What a sweet tribute to our fine, feathered friends, including those amazing songbirds known as the Eagles. Ah yes, like their namesake, our dear Eagles sure did soar and bask in the Light. Hotel C is indeed, quite a mystical song if one has ears to hear. I too, saw them perform live on the Hotel C tour - their performance every bit as amazing as their superlative recordings - consummate musicians. Magical it was. To top it all off - from my perch in the front row - I saw Don Felder wink at me - I kid you not! Ha! My 16 year old heart took flight!
Regarding the band, Eagles, I was sitting far away in the cheap seats. Still, it was a great concert. 🕊🦜
At the venue I attended, there was one ticket price and there were no seats! First to arrive would be closest to the stage and I showed up hours before concert time! So fun.
I love birds, too! I am honored to share a name with one. I would love to fly like an Eagle, explore like a Raven, and build a nest like birds do! I wrote about my experience with birds in my newsletter, too. Birds are fascinating- they are such great partners and parents- I love to observe them and talk with them!
Same here; birds are teaching me a lot.
Such a beautiful essay, and I agree 100% with you, Perry. I love birds too, love watching them, lobe listening to them, and love learning from them. They have deep spiritual significance as divine messengers, if only we would listen to their message or sign. I always wished I could fly, like a bird, away from the things that weigh me down.. And also, to see things from afar is to see the bigger picture (be less self-absorbed, perhaps). The closest I ever came to flying was when I went paragliding.. It was THE most exhilarating feeling. 🙏🙂❤
Paragliding seems the closest to a bird flying that a human without wings or feathers can imitate. Soaring and looking down must have delivered feelings of freedom.
You're absolutely right, Perry.. It did! 🙂
I forgot to say HI to Arya. 🥰
WILD GEESE
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
Love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours,
And I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile, the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear
Pebbles of the rain
Are moving across the landscapes,
Over the prairies and the deep trees,
The mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile, the wild geese, high in the clean
Blue air are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
The world offers itself to your imagination-
Calls to you like the wild geese,
Harsh and exciting,
Over and over announcing your place
In the family of things. Mary Oliver
======================================================
Beautiful: the calls of the Canada Geese are comforting and familiar, their honks a symphony of sound I look forward to every year, a ritural so kind and soft I need no othet. I get on my knees not to repent, but to be close to the birds when they land.
WILD GEESE
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
Love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours,
And I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile, the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear
Pebbles of the rain
Are moving across the landscapes,
Over the prairies and the deep trees,
The mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile, the wild geese, high in the clean
Blue air are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
The world offers itself to your imagination-
Calls to you like the wild geese,
Harsh and exciting,
Over and over announcing your place
In the family of things. Mary Oliver
======================================================
This is just stupendous! So much truth and love. You reminded me of a cockatiel I once rescued, his name was Hansleigh. My late husband was especially bonded to him, Hansleigh perched on his shoulder many times throughout the day. When he preened, we would call out to each other, "Hansleigh is cleaning his long feathers!" and we'd stop to watch and marvel at his exceptional beauty and personality. Thank you for writing this. Birds are a sacred gift that I never take for granted.
Such a wonderful story about Hansleigh; it is true that it is a marvel watching Arya preening his long tail feathers. Birds are a sacred gift Truly.
Thanks for restacking, @Kent Peterson. 🕊🦜
I agree—birds are just marvelous. Even simply on the basis of their ability to fly, they are so different and seemingly so much freer than us humans. What’s not to love?
I love everything about birds; they are magical creatures connected to a long ago past.
Wonderful essay, Perry. Although, I suspect that Arya with his incredible bird brain was the source of inspiration.:) Love the message of freedom and flight.
Yes, it is true. Arya was the bird behind this essay.🕊🦜
I feel the same way about birds. We have so much to learn from them. I live in the PNW, so there are lots of wild birds, even in the city. I love to watch them, even the pigeons!
Yes, even pigeons!
Some great spring birdsongs here in Ontario! We had 12 blue jays in the yard yesterday!
That is a blue jay string section.
The whole choir 🐦 💗
"As I am fascinated with the bird now in front of me, acting every much his bird self, his bird being, and not with any noticeable sense of self-consciousness." ~ Yes! While we are 'prisoners of our own device'.
I've been thinking along those same lines lately. The freedom of birds, 4 legged animals, and all sentient beings in the natural world ~ apart from humans ~ to be themselves with the greatest ease. Will we ever learn?
That is the question that I often think about, and I can offer are no answers, only more questions.
That's a great line about being prisoners of our own device and most poignant to our condition. And not just own condition but also the conditions we create for the Nature around us and birds. That is a sad statistic about the loss of 3 billion number of birds in North America since 1977.
These days, I find myself appreciating each glimpse of birds in flight and hearing a chirp or call. I live about 15 minutes from the Ottawa River and regularly see Ring-billed Gulls flying nearby past my windows. Being 6 stories up, they're a sight to see and admire as they glide past the windows of my apartment. I could spend the entire day watching these gulls fly past. They are such a joy to watch and learn from.
Thanks Neil. That sounds delightful, watching the gulls.
I love birdsong; it makes me smile and feel life is worth living. I love seeing birds of prey (mainly kites here) soaring high; their freedom makes me feel freer too.
This is so true; if birds can be free, so can we humans.
Avian friends, sky soarers known to carry messages to the gods. What’s not to like? Hummingbird to condor and a shame th dodo bird extinct as well as many tropical birds in Hawaiian isles. I read it was due to feral cats . Another Darwinian experiment.
There’s many stories to write. Inspiration arrives with tales I’ve witnessed. The pen will wait only so long and then rests on a desk forlorn for being neglected.
I like your story about cockatiel. I once had a budgie parakeet, not the same but loved it’s chirps. I’d like a more 1 on 1 story about your relationship with birds. Anon for now. Tout a l’heure .
Thanks Richard; there are a few more bird stories in this avian lover. 🕊🦜
For as long as I can remember, I've loved birds. I feel close to them. I bird watch and I have birds as pets. I volunteer for two exotic bird rescues and have gone and "fetched" them for the rescue. I feel like I am their advocate and in return the calm my heart.
I feel the same way, that I have been put on this Earth to help care for birds in.my small way. But they really help me so much more by providing me sanity and serenity. I would love to volunteer for exotic bird rescues or rehabs. This sounds like such rewarding work.