No, I’m not referring to the US Census.
Oh, and by the way, do NOT shake the census taker’s hand–you don’t know where it’s been.
Being counted refers to joining the The Great Backyard Bird Count.
It’s super fun.
And super easy. Plus you can do your counting in your jammies with bed-head hair if you’re so inclined.
“All you have to do is count. 1…2…3…….”
Join at: https://gbbc.birdcount.org/
Once your there, register your name, etc. Don’t worry, Audubon won’t sell your info.
That’s it, easy-cheesy.
“While you’re counting, why not join Project FeederWatch too? Oh, and I’m an immature Cooper’s Hawk.”
Project FeederWatch is sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All you’ll need is a feeder, some bird seed, preferably sunflower seed, and your eyeballs. A pen or pencil and some paper will come in handy unless you have a James Bond type of memory.
When you register you’ll receive a cool welcome kit that contains a colorful poster, calendar, and other nifty items.
If you have children, or grandchildren, Project FeederWatch is a fun way to spend some quality time with them. Heck, my son is almost 26 and he enjoys it!
I hope you’ll join one or both of these important projects. Remember my post about bird numbers declining? Well, if you don’t, here’s the link: https://concordriverlady.com/2019/10/27/hey-buddy-can-you-spare-some-food/
Songbirds need our help if they’re going to survive the chaos humans are wreaking on Mother Earth.
Help out a feathered friend and you’ll feel like a million bucks.
And now for the magical portion of this post. It’s a new moon tonight and the two month mark of my sister’s passing. Before she died, we talked. She knew she only had a day or two left to her life, but she wasn’t afraid. She’d lived a good life, she said, and was ready for the physical and emotional pain she’d been dealing with to end. Ovarian cancer sucks. I had asked her many years ago what bird she’ll come back as, a question I ask the people I love. I need to know how to spot them when they appear in my life. My mother chose a Northern Cardinal.
It’s okay to come back as the brightly colored male of the species. Mother Nature is cool with gender transitioning.
Me, I’m coming back as a Chimney Swift.
I love to watch them dart and swoop in the late afternoon summer sky. The freedom they display is breathtaking and I want to be a part of it, damn it.
Dyan had chosen an Eastern Bluebird.
I spent some with a grief counselor and told her about Dyan’s reincarnation bird. That was on January 8th. The very next day what did my red-rimmed eyes spy outside the window? You guessed it.
Since then I’ve been blessed with a flock of bluebirds. Over two dozen. My sister is soaring in her brilliant beauty.
Thank you, Goddess.
I’ll be selling these photos as greeting cards on Zazzle, and will post the link when I have them finished. The money I raise will go to Ovations for the Cure, an ovarian cancer research and support group. I do hope you’ll help me raise the much needed funds so we can stop this bitch of a disease from destroying more lives.
Until then, watch for bluebirds, and when you see one, say hello to Dyan.
Blessed be :}
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