Tweet. Tweet tweet. Tweet tweet. Again, I woke to the morning songbird concert, but this morning my mind toyed with several recent references to the unusual abundance of birdsong. Why are we being blessed with more feathered melodies in our lives?
Glad you asked.
“Every bird loves to hear himself sing.” (Old saying)
I have several theories (of course).
- The reduction of air pollution, due to the reduction of vehicles on the road, has made the bird population heartier and more robust. Healthier Birds = More Bird Song
- The reduction of vehicles on the road actually makes it quieter, so it’s easier to hear the birds belt out their tunes. Less Traffic Noise = More Bird Song
- As a quarantined population, we escape outside more often to experience the great outdoors, which, coincidentally, is where the birds are. Proximity = More Bird Song
- We listen. We hear more birdsong because we are actually listening to the birds. Our lives have forcibly slowed down, and as a result we are sitting quietly, allowing ourselves to notice the world around us. Taking Time To Notice = More Bird Song
You haven’t noticed the increase in birdsong yet? That’s okay! The mere action of reading this article will translate into you paying some attention to singing birds at some later moment in time, which in turn will introduce a much needed moment of stillness into your life.
Enjoy.
A wise old owl sat on an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard;
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?
(Edward Hersey Richards)
Why stop there? Expand that valuable moment of stillness to your kids. Ask them, “Have you noticed more birds singing this year than before?” They may engage you in a conversation, or they might not…. But, either way is okay. When they are alone, they’ll notice that one little songbird singing at the top of it’s a little birdie lungs. Why? Because you brought it up. Your child will pause for a minute to listen, and Voila! You will have gifted her or him a moment of stillness in this uncertain life.
You’re welcome.
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PS I’m proud of the fact that I refrained from coloring this post with the science behind bird melodies, i.e., that they sing loudly in an effort to stake out their territories, or to warn off predators. It kinda takes the romance out of it, doesn’t it?
“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” (Old saying)
For more suggestions, check out How To Keep Your Daughter From Slamming the Door. It’s available for preorder on Smashwords. Enjoy!
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