March 15: I frequently hear myself say “I’m not really a bird guy, but…” right before I launch into some story about a siting or the behaviour of birds. What I really mean is that I don’t track birds for a “lifetime list”, and I don’t really know about migration patterns or nesting habits and such. But I do try to be aware of the birds around me because I think we can learn things from them (and the rest of nature, for that matter).
When I lived in the Lakeshore, I had a feeding station in the yard during the Winter. It attracted the usual list of suspects: Sparrows, Chickadees, Finches, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, Cardinals and sometimes a Blue Jay or two. If you were alert, you might also see Cedar Waxwings and Grosbeaks that seemed to appear for a day or two and then were gone – presumably migrating through. Their behaviours were all a bit different and it was fun to watch the different birds feeding and then moving along.
One day I looked out to see a hawk sitting on the deck, clearly looking at the feeders as the bird-equivalent of a buffet. While I know that predation happens all the time in nature, I must say that I was not unhappy to see that he left without lunch that day. The incident reminded me that my feathered friends really only have one purpose in their lives: to procreate. They absolutely don’t care if it’s Monday, rainy or sunny or -34 C. They don’t have a new car, or a nice apartment or a great wardrobe. They just have to eat, avoid being killed for another day, and ultimately, make babies. They are not concerned about much else.
I think most of us have far too many possessions. We develop emotional attachments to “things” that tie us to places and behaviours that might not be appropriate to our lifestyle. Many of my friends are “downsizing” and facing the sorting and boxing and recycling that goes with it. I went through that process last year when I moved and I found it cathartic even though I still have far too much “stuff” hanging around.
Over the weekend there was an eloquent article in the Globe written by Danielle Meder, a 33-year-old woman who had recently lost her Mother; resigned her job in favour of self-employment; ended a relationship that was holding her back; ended the lease on her apartment in favour of moving overseas; and sold off most of her possessions so that she could leave for Europe. She ends her article writing:
“To pack a single suitcase for a journey with no return was more difficult. I have a small but heavy bag with all the equipment I need to work. To wear, I have a tightly edited selection of my best clothes. Everything feels great – silk and cashmere and angora, a little black dress and good hosiery and real lingerie – and everything goes together. For the first time in my life, it is impossible to put together a bad outfit. Every time I get dressed, I am ready to meet my professional or romantic destiny. Or I’ll just get lost in the city, alone and free.”
While cleaning up I’m sure many of us have dreamed about doing exactly what she did, though I know of nobody who has actually done so. And such a radical step is probably unrealistic for most of us in any event. So maybe we need to focus a little more on the living of a good life day-to-day, and less on the trappings that tie us down. Perhaps then we too might be, dare I say, free as a bird ?