Birdwatching is having a moment. There’s an article in the NY Times today about the joys of the pastime. I have been a birdwatcher —to one degree or another— most of my life, thanks to my father. I’m not good at it anymore, but I did study ornithology in college and a lot stuck with me. I agree, it’s really fun. Birds are amazing creatures.
I love these last 2 cartoons, and am still trying to pin down exactly why. Obviously, they're both just funny. REALLY funny. Because, I think, they're mimicking dubious human behavior in ways no bird could ever do. And I suspect its those impossibilities that add another layer to the humor. A giant bird that can talk (without lips?). Two small birds that can read? We're in imaginary places that look like home. What else might be nearby? Dare we find out? Thanks for setting my imagination loose.
I’m seriously jealous of that camera kit! I know, I know it’s just a drawing… does that make me too weird even for Substack? We deal…
I’ve taken to sitting on my back deck in the mornings, evenings … well, pretty much all day every day since the start of this pandemic … what’s that quote, I think Miles Davis said it… “once is a mistake, twice an idea, third is a style…” I’m probably paraphrasing and getting WAYYY into the weeds! My “style” is hanging on m’deck, listening to birds.
Last week, I finally downloaded an app to identify birds by their song. I wanted to live in and among exotic birds, colorful and … anyways robins and sparrows. That’s what we got here on my deck. I’m surrounded by robins and sparrows.
Disappointed? At first, but then I thought about it and the orchestra I enjoyed prior to knowing that this music was created by common robins and sparrows was glorious and magical… why did knowing those golden tones were produced by the most common birds known change any of that? It shouldn’t and now didn’t. In fact, it made that opus even more magical!
Do I need to land on the lesson here? Ok, I will because I’m still contemplating this little parable and life lesson for myself. There’s beauty and magic in the most common places. Sometimes I forget that.
Searched back for one of your posts on birds: Just had a seagull land in front of me on the beach as I was eating a snack... he was all like “you know you want to.” They can sometimes be so aggressive but this one was trying a mind-meld. Bird telepathy?
Luck!
I love these last 2 cartoons, and am still trying to pin down exactly why. Obviously, they're both just funny. REALLY funny. Because, I think, they're mimicking dubious human behavior in ways no bird could ever do. And I suspect its those impossibilities that add another layer to the humor. A giant bird that can talk (without lips?). Two small birds that can read? We're in imaginary places that look like home. What else might be nearby? Dare we find out? Thanks for setting my imagination loose.
They're all great, especially the cynical ones, which are hilarious!
ICYMI Christian Cooper got his own birdwatching show on TV. He's also a comic writer and editor! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Cooper
These are great! Thanks for the much-needed chuckle today.
What a way to brighten a day! Thank you.
I’m seriously jealous of that camera kit! I know, I know it’s just a drawing… does that make me too weird even for Substack? We deal…
I’ve taken to sitting on my back deck in the mornings, evenings … well, pretty much all day every day since the start of this pandemic … what’s that quote, I think Miles Davis said it… “once is a mistake, twice an idea, third is a style…” I’m probably paraphrasing and getting WAYYY into the weeds! My “style” is hanging on m’deck, listening to birds.
Last week, I finally downloaded an app to identify birds by their song. I wanted to live in and among exotic birds, colorful and … anyways robins and sparrows. That’s what we got here on my deck. I’m surrounded by robins and sparrows.
Disappointed? At first, but then I thought about it and the orchestra I enjoyed prior to knowing that this music was created by common robins and sparrows was glorious and magical… why did knowing those golden tones were produced by the most common birds known change any of that? It shouldn’t and now didn’t. In fact, it made that opus even more magical!
Do I need to land on the lesson here? Ok, I will because I’m still contemplating this little parable and life lesson for myself. There’s beauty and magic in the most common places. Sometimes I forget that.
Searched back for one of your posts on birds: Just had a seagull land in front of me on the beach as I was eating a snack... he was all like “you know you want to.” They can sometimes be so aggressive but this one was trying a mind-meld. Bird telepathy?