How enchanting~first the beautiful photo of the bright red Cardinals decorating the frosted branched, and then another amazing peep into the history of your backyard!
I have documented the birds in my yard for many years. It has long been my observation that the cardinals are most often the birds of the margins of the day, when there is just barely enough light to see them! But nothing seems to bring them in, or make them more obvious, than having snow cover. Then they appear as jewels in a fascinating game of treasure hunting for brilliant reds and warm, rusty browns with orange beaks. They surely enrich our short days of winter, and when the days start to lengthen a bit and the bright blue sky brings a smile, you will notice that the males start to sing about Spring with their rising "wheep, wheep, wheep!" calls ringing thru the air. What a treat to appreciate these signs and wonders.
What a gift to have the local bird records from Mr Ross, to compare sightings, yes, but to also feel and carry forward the camaraderie and the baton for the large community of bird lovers for the future of our planet.
I have written for many audiences both in the past and presently, but my deepest hope at this point is that my 3 year old grandson will read some of what I’ve written when he’s older, that he’ll get a fuller sense of and stronger connection to his Gramma Diana and her hopes for his future world.
He lives in the PNW where there no cardinals. So I send him cardinal cards, ornaments, books (C is for Cardinal), etc. They are our special bird that we can see together on our farm in the Midwest.
There is *power* in the written word. Thank you for sharing yours and those of William Ross.
Dear Diane! I loved every word of this! And the red Cardinals in the snowy branches just thrills me!
I feel certain that Mr. Ross must have surmised that there would be a Diane out there in the woods, studying and enjoying his birds, as you are! This soul-filled love of the natural world and its wonders speaks to me most clearly of our deeper selves...beyond the...being-sitting-in-traffic on the way to Target or CVS for some...plastic thing! Sigh! But Thank Goodness Mom Nature is there persisting in Her Joy of Being, tending all of her 'children,' as best She can! Thank you, dear Diane, and a Very Peaceful Christmastime to you and yours! With Love, Sue
Thanks for telling us about William Ross.
I feel as if I've met him now.
Diane, where were the Cardinals previously? Why was this the first time he’d seen them? Beautiful article, thanks!
How enchanting~first the beautiful photo of the bright red Cardinals decorating the frosted branched, and then another amazing peep into the history of your backyard!
It is a kind of time travel. And the notes they sing are so high and bold.
I shared this post with David Lei, an avid bird photographer in New York City. He commented that it reminded him of this cartoon:
https://www.facebook.com/BirdAndMoon/photos/new-comic-wayward-birds-explainedus-pals-dont-forget-to-vote/3425237014220046/?paipv=0&eav=AfYb27yLbn-6FLHHGIlYuMxwK_1tz6eijp8oqPQ4Xw6g3dm9-G-hdEJa608AUKIzWZQ&_rdr
I have documented the birds in my yard for many years. It has long been my observation that the cardinals are most often the birds of the margins of the day, when there is just barely enough light to see them! But nothing seems to bring them in, or make them more obvious, than having snow cover. Then they appear as jewels in a fascinating game of treasure hunting for brilliant reds and warm, rusty browns with orange beaks. They surely enrich our short days of winter, and when the days start to lengthen a bit and the bright blue sky brings a smile, you will notice that the males start to sing about Spring with their rising "wheep, wheep, wheep!" calls ringing thru the air. What a treat to appreciate these signs and wonders.
We never know to whom we will be writing, and that's vital to remember. Thanks.
I love this sentiment--of Ross unknowingly writing for you, of us not knowing who will connect with our words and when. ♥️🪺
How blessed you are, Diane, to walk such hallowed ground! And how blessed we are to read your sharings!
What a lovely piece, linking history, the natural world, and connection to place. Very nice, Diane -- thank you for sharing!
What a gift to have the local bird records from Mr Ross, to compare sightings, yes, but to also feel and carry forward the camaraderie and the baton for the large community of bird lovers for the future of our planet.
I have written for many audiences both in the past and presently, but my deepest hope at this point is that my 3 year old grandson will read some of what I’ve written when he’s older, that he’ll get a fuller sense of and stronger connection to his Gramma Diana and her hopes for his future world.
He lives in the PNW where there no cardinals. So I send him cardinal cards, ornaments, books (C is for Cardinal), etc. They are our special bird that we can see together on our farm in the Midwest.
There is *power* in the written word. Thank you for sharing yours and those of William Ross.
Thank you so much for sharing what you know of William Ross. The PDF, and picture of the cardinals along with your narrative are all such a treat!
Dear Diane! I loved every word of this! And the red Cardinals in the snowy branches just thrills me!
I feel certain that Mr. Ross must have surmised that there would be a Diane out there in the woods, studying and enjoying his birds, as you are! This soul-filled love of the natural world and its wonders speaks to me most clearly of our deeper selves...beyond the...being-sitting-in-traffic on the way to Target or CVS for some...plastic thing! Sigh! But Thank Goodness Mom Nature is there persisting in Her Joy of Being, tending all of her 'children,' as best She can! Thank you, dear Diane, and a Very Peaceful Christmastime to you and yours! With Love, Sue