As February winds down and winter begins it's yield to spring. Arkansas winters are milder than winters in the Midwest. They do have their moments when they try hard to pretend that they have a Midwest winter event. The great thing is within a few days the snow is gone.The birds have been having their own "American Idol" singing show each morning. You have the bass cooing of the of Collared Doves, the tenor cooing of Mourning Doves. The Robins sing their aria, the Cardinals sing they vast repertoire of melodies. Of course not to be out done the Juncos and White Crown Sparrows join in also. It is so wonderful to lay in bed before getting up to listen the birds singing their praises to God. I noticed a tree that starting to bud. The Chorus Frogs have emerged from their winter slumber. They put the day to bed.
Nature speaks to us about the cycles of life. So many are in such a rush in their lives they tune out, ignore what the music, the beauty, awesomeness that is around them daily. God, has put before us the beauty of His work, He wants us to see it. This spring I will start my 18th year of Bird Watching. I never tire of seeing a Cardinal or a Robin each time you see something that I had not seen before. The joy is even greater when I share the wonders with my wife. Daily as we drive around town we are looking for Hawks, Vultures, and any other glimpse into nature. Each day we marvel at the flight of Turkey Vultures. They glide effortlessly across the sky riding a warm thermal. It is amazing how much sky they can cover without a wing beat. They are natures garbage collectors. Cleaning up natures death. Red Tail Hawks perch upon lamp posts, wires, billboards, and highway signs along the interstate. They are like sentails standing guard over the highway. Watching and eyeful of all that is around them. Looking for the slightest movement afar for next meal. As they look down on the cars whizzing by I wonder what they think of us. Our hurried lifestyle, multitasking while driving. The majority will whiz by and never notice the Hawk peering at them.
I left the Midwest coming up on seven years now. Life and nature are so vastly different yet have a common thread. The bugs here are super sized and there are definitely a greater variety. Or maybe I notice them more because they are bigger. The cycles of the seasons in the south follow a truer path of the seasons. While winter is a greater warrior in the Midwest it is meeker here in the South. The great thing is spring migrants (birds) arrive here first. The Trumpeter Swans, that vacation here sensing the coming changes. Took flight to begin their journey northward to summer breeding grounds. After spending later part of fall and the majority of winter on the open waters here. They will follow the route of previous generations took. It is as though they have a GPS implanted at birth. Generations of Trumpeter Swans have gone before them traveling the same route year after year. They know internally when the seasons will change and when it is time to head north. Soon the little Juncos that dart on the patio will head north also. The ducks that have wintered on the open waters here will also beging their journey northward. Soon those birds they vactioned in further south will begin their flight back.
very delightful!!!!
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