Bird Signs

I never thought of myself as a bird person until recent years. I’m too nearsighted to see little songbirds, but I enjoy the large birds we see around here. There are migratory waterfowl such as ducks, geese, great blue herons, and white pelicans, and we have raptors here year-round: bald eagles, owls, and many types of hawks. I’ve gained more appreciation for them through the years, particularly now that I have them in my home. We got our first parrot about ten years ago, and now we have four. They have a different attitude than our other pets. With the insight they give me into the bird world, so I enjoy and notice birds more.

As I walked my dog in the park near our house a few days ago, I heard an owl call. As I neared the source of the call, I spotted the owl’s silhouette above us. He called several times, and once he had my full attention, he flew away. Sorry, no pictures yet again! It was dusk and too dark for photos. As in my last post, Wild Messages, I wondered what message he had for me during this encounter. His presence seemed meaningful in an unexpected way. Although I’ve walked the trail during the evening and full dark, I only see him at dusk.

I look at my life, and I am in a similar transition. The first half of my life is fading away and with my youngest child beginning college, I am entering the second half. I am at that point of transition, where I am changing, still a bit of a mom, but becoming more of an individual. I am evolving. Perhaps the owl is just pointing out that there are many transitions in our lives, and this one brings a whole new world. After all, owls don’t come out during the daylight; they are creatures of the night. What will I find during this second half is nothing I could have discovered in the first? For just this little while, I span both worlds.

In keeping with the bird theme, I saw a bird cloud a few weeks ago! I’m not sure its meaning; perhaps it was just a statement of encouragement and acknowledgment. Sorry for the poor-quality iPhone picture. I had to use what was with me!