I have never claimed to be an avid bird watcher. I like to try to know what is around me and I try to figure out what birds I might be seeing, but I am not one of those who chases new birds around the province, just to get a quick glimpse of them. In fact, I am willing to admit I’m not very good at even spotting birds.
If they land right in front of me, I will probably see them. If I have to go looking, I may never locate them. So I do get a bit jealous of people who spot rare birds on a regular basis.
Like last week when I was trying to figure out what sort of wood pecker I was hearing in a tree. I could hear it. It was up in a tree. I was under the tree, looking up. But I swear as I circled the tree, it was also circling the tree, always staying on the other side, out of my sight. About a half hour and a stiff neck later, I moved on. The bird had won. It’s identity will forever remain a mystery.
This happens to me quite often. I hear them. I just find it hard to see them.
Then I looked online today and someone had spotted a wood stork in the province. They even had pictures. This isn’t a bird that is native to this area. It doesn’t even visit here. In fact, this is the first time anyone has seen one. Then again, like a lot of people, maybe it’s just scouting out a new place to live.
But this is a Florida bird. Except for this one.
It is the only native North American stork, so maybe this is good news for our birth rate. And maybe that’s why it it here. It was making a delivery.
But it joins several other rare bird sightings that have happened over the past few years. Thankfully, others are seeing them and taking pictures, because I have an issue finding them, even when they’re right above my head.
So while others are taking pictures of wood storks and Steller’s Sea Eagles and glossy ibises, I’m still trying to catch a glimpse of a turkey vulture. People say they’re everywhere. Everywhere except where I am, I guess.
But I’ll just keep looking.
