bird songs

Four mornings in a row I have gotten up and very first thing, taken a walk outside. One morning I was struggling to get myself out of bed, but I could hear a bird in our oak tree. And I knew there were all sorts of surprises for me, if I could just get myself out there.

That morning I saw that our tulips are all nearly four inches tall. And I heard so many different birds. One in particular, the one I had heard while still inside, was still calling but I could not find it in a tree for the life of me. I heard it, but could not spot it.

So I came in the house and googled minnesota bird sounds and that is when I found this incredible interactive page with minnesota birds and their bird songs.

Friends, I believe this puts me in a category of bird watchers, bird enthusiasts and general dorks. But let me be the first to say, I have found that usually the dorkier the activity the more life-giving, awesome and rewarding it is. (I would name examples here, but I don't want to offend more people groups than necessary...)

Anyway. I'm officially a bird watcher. In high school I had to take a test on bird calls, and now I wish I had paid more attention. But I did remember having to purchase a bunch of field guides for that class, so I came in looking for my Peterson's Field Guide and was so sad when I could only find my trees and wildflowers field guides. I'll have to purchase the Bird Guide next.

Promise me you will visit this site (and download flash if you don't have it...I had to). When you click on a bird, it plays its song. So prepare to spend a lot of time clicking on all of the birds. Today Ivar came in and was so excited that he had heard a bird singing. He tried to mimic it for me and we figured out that it was a red cardinal. And the happy bird that calls me outside each morning is a black-capped chickadee singing it's two tone whistle. I'm a total dork, I know. But come on! God has all of this music playing for us, if we'd only have ears to hear!