Birds at the Nativity? Why Not!

 

Wake up, wake up, birds!” croaks Raven one December night. “A child is born!” Each bird longs to bring a gift to the newborn baby in the manger. Nightingale sings a sweet song; Rooster caws a special call; Stork plucks her feathers to make a pillow. “I have nothing to give,” thinks little Robin. But as the night grows colder, the fire keeping the stable warm burns lower and lower. Maybe even a tiny bird has her own way to show her love for the newborn Prince of Peace…

I was drawn to the ad for this new seasonal book because I am a semi- serious bird nerd, aware that birds show up everywhere in the bible through both Testaments. When we were in Israel going on three years ago I was on the lookout for various species on migration northward to Europe from Africa. So, why wouldn't I be intrigued by a birds-eye perspective of the Nativity?  I think that St. Francis, who staged the first living nativity 800 years ago, would approve. It's said that Francis preached to the birds, a story portrayed by many artists. 

                                                 St. Francis Preaching to the Birds -- Giotto, c. 1300

Here in the Northern Hemisphere we have entered into what is still called the Christmas Bird Count, an annual community science bird project which has taken place for more than a century. Every year the count extends from December 14 (this past Sunday) until January 5 and now it's possible to enter sightings online.

 While we know that bird species are scarcer during the Winter we still get a dozen or more species at our feeders and they never cease to delight us. When they swarm the feeders during snowstorms we are reminded of the resilience of even the tiniest of creatures. Recently one of our daughters sent us a photo of a flock of Evening Grosbeaks, the biker gang of birds, at her tray feeder. 

This morning we walked at Lodge Point in Sandbanks Provincial Park, by the shore of Lake Ontario, and saw this explanatory sign adjacent to a MOTUS antenna. Eventually days will lengthen and warm. Birds will make their way along their Springtime migratory routes, across the inland seas, returning to nest for another season. We can't take this miracle of the seasons for granted as human stewards of Creation. 

Find a Christmas Bird Count Circle in your Region

Use this map to see if you live in or near a CBC Count Circle.
Click on that circle to see the date and your local Compiler’s email.

Compilers: enter your count date here

CBC homepage