Orioles

The Orioles are back! I have been walking each morning by the Charles River. I go early when there are few people and the birdsong is at it's height. I was delighted to see a Kildeer this morning along with a Red-Tail Hawk being harassed by a flock of Starlings (did you know that a large flock of Starlings is called a murmuration?). Goldfinch were flitting around me while I watched the Tree Swallows feeding in flight on the swarms of insects gathered in the meadows near the Charles. But the real pleasure came when I was able to view in close proximity over 8 pairs of Orioles - both the Orchard and Baltimore variety. I watched as a determined female Baltimore worried a piece of ribbon (like that attached to balloons) from some underbrush. The ribbon was caught on a piece of the brush and she determinedly tug and twisted and hopped in and out of the brush trying to free it for use in weaving her nest. Eventually she was interrupted by the call of her mate and flew off, leaving the ribbon to another. I continued my walk and soon spotted a pair of Orchard Orioles mating. As I progressed on my constitutional I witnessed so many Orioles that I felt like I could reach out and have one land on me. It was truly spectacular. I learned their chipping call as well as their song. Practicing my own "whistle" and chip, I would call to them and receive calls in return. Magic.

I ponder whether all these returning birds feel the same sense of renewal that I feel as spring arrives and the world of New England comes alive again. 

A funny anecdote. As I was walking - slowly - observing the birds and listening intently at their calls, I heard a small sneeze. I stopped and listened so more, wondering if I had imagined this highly unlikely sound. I was very still, listening for it to repeat and out darted a large rabbit just in front of me and crossed the path into more brush. Did that rabbit sneeze? Experiences like this may well have served as the inspiration for many a children's tale.