(All photos and pictures adapted from photos are mine unless
noted. You can bring the pictures up in full screen by double clicking on any
image. Click on a border to return.)
The following dialog has been translated from English into Herring Gull. A brief snippet is heard here: https://www.box.com/s/rzoxyxj0506hwrmpmji3
The following dialog has been translated from English into Herring Gull. A brief snippet is heard here: https://www.box.com/s/rzoxyxj0506hwrmpmji3
"Gertie, Until recently the form and function of the male/female
bird relationship, and marriage in particular, were carefully prescribed by
family, society and religion. Marriage had a central place in the flock,
providing a stabilizing influence and supporting the social order. And avian society
supported it in turn: if a marriage was unhappy, community pressure held it
together as long as was possible."
Henry bowed his head, opened his wings as a sign of humble sincerity and continued, "That being said, dearest Gertrude, I am leaving to become a hermit gull
and I will live out my life with no one to bother me except myself."
Gertrude replies, "You batty bird! Your out of here? Bushtit feathers!
I'm going home to mother where I'm appreciated!" And she flew off.
"Ahh ….. said Henry … peace at last… psychology really works." He then slowly closed his eyes and took a nap.
This was the tale of Henry and
Gertrude, famous in avian circles the world over, retold again and again as it seems that birds really
don't have a lot of stories to offer.
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A year and a half ago we took a trip to Machias Seal Island which has a population of five to seven thousand Puffins that nest there during the mating season. We were given forty minutes in a blind with the birds just a few feet away and they were unafraid of our peering eyes. I revisited the trip by taking a look at the photos taken that day and thought that even though this may be a Puffin repeat on this Blog that I would continue the seabird motif that started with the Gulls above. All birds are marvelous creatures, God's creative wonders that I enjoy completely. Watching any bird through binoculars or scope becomes only about the present moment - the only place where God can be experienced - not in the past, not in the future, in the Now.
Before continuing take a listen to the puffins themselves as recorded by the National Geographic. Click below:
Listen. Listen. This wondrous sound takes us back to Puffin Island:
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Enough of the birds .....
Some Humor:
A Dog's Day
