Day 78

I love to watch little song sparrows sing, they put everything they have into it, they throw their little heads back and sing away. All the birds this time of year are singing, as if they're so happy spring is here, well almost, but it's close to official. I'm also happy because Montezuma is finally open, that means the birds are on the move, some coming back for the summer, some are just stopping for a rest on their way farther north. When I drive through the refuge, I like to take my time, sometimes stopping and just watching and waiting, if you have patience and just wait you'll see all kinds of things. You have to be patient to see the little birds, they blend in to the surroundings, I usually wait and listen and before too long I can find them, they may be too far away to photograph but I still watch and marvel at their antics. It often takes me a couple hours to drive the two or three mile Wildlife Drive, and I am amazed at the cars that pass me, they fly through not stopping or looking, why come at all? If there are no large birds right in front of them they don't seem to notice any thing else, they just speed past me kicking up dust and startling the birds I've been waiting for to come out of hiding.

One of my most favorite pictures is one where there isn't a bird in sight, it was a frosty morning this past fall and everything was perfectly still, and beautiful. I wouldn't have seen the stillness if I hadn't taken the time to look. I can be maddeningly patient when I am out looking for photographs, that's probably why I like to go alone, I don't have to worry about others and if they're having a good time. But sometimes I just want to get out and stop the cars who are speeding by me and show them what they're missing.

"Without a song, each day would be a century." -Mahalia Jackson