The Birds are Returning -- Pay Attention!

 

                                                   Turkey Vultures in Flight (not my photo)

1 Birds are singing, woods are ringing,

With thy praises, blessed King;
Lake and mountain, field and fountain,
to thy throne their tributes bring.

Refrain:
We, thy children, join the chorus,
Merrily, gladly praising thee;
Glad hosannas, glad hosannas,
Joyfully we lift to thee.

Yesterday I faced the music, or at least the unwelcome snow, and headed out into the driveway to clean up. I glanced upward to see 17 or 18 turkey vultures glide by, likely returning from the south. When I went to our garage I saw leaves along the double door line and surmised that the robins I could hear had been tossing them out of the crack in search of the first insects. 

I began the day in a foul mood because the Tryant-in-Chief was threatening the annihilation of Iranian culture, a horrendous war crime. The snow didn't help but the birds around me lifted my spirits and reminded me of the beauty of the world God has created and sustains in spite of human folly. 

On Easter Sunday morning a member of Trenton United Church pushed a sheaf of papers into my hand which turned out to be the meticulous record she'd kept of all the birds she'd seen at her feeders and elsewhere during the season of Lent. I had invited folk to be Bird-brained with St. Francis during the liturgical season, in part as a tribute to Francis who was reputed to preach to the birds and listen to them as well. I was delighted that this person had taken the assignment so seriously and wanted to share the outcome of her attentiveness. 

                                                                               Wood Ducks 

The other day I passed an osprey nest just outside of Belleville and the pair was on it, the first spotting of the Spring. I've seen wood ducks, with the males in full breeding splendour and caught sight of trumpeter swans in two locations. The bald eagle pair at a nearby conservation area have added to their already impressive nest. 

All this activity has been a spiritual uplifting and brought to mind a hymn in the "For Little Children" section of the Blue Hymnary of yesteryear (587)

The birds of our feeders sustained us through what was a cold and snowy Winter. Bring on all the returned species in the days ahead!

Refrain:
We, thy children, join the chorus,
Merrily, gladly praising thee;
Glad hosannas, glad hosannas,
Joyfully we lift to thee.

2 Waters dancing, sunbeams glancing,
Sing thy glory cheerily;
Blossoms breaking, nature waking,
Chant thy praises merrily.