I have no idea what life will look like even half a year from now. Maybe that's why I'm enjoying spring bird migration so much this year.
I look at my records from other years: Today I might see a palm warbler. I go down to the woods and see a palm warbler. Nothing else seems stable. And maybe by next year this won't be either but for now I can check and see when the swifts will come back, when I might see a house wren, a catbird, a wood thrush, and then have a chance of seeing them.
Another thing: I used to want to go to far-flung places to see exciting exotic birds in their habitat. Now there is literally no bird more magical than the ones that show up right here in my garden and the ones I can see in the woods near my house.
Look! These are the descendants of deeply ancient lineages and right now they happen to be in this little part of the world with me. What an honour!
Maybe I'm losing it but it seems thrilling. We're here together maybe at the end of the world.
