it begins

{One year ago, give or take a day.}

Ah.....we've been watching...hoping...and waiting for this. On March 1st, we turned our bird calendar to a page full of robins - and we all wondered, "Really? This month, they'll return?"

We began preparing the bird book basket - which sits out all year long - with some new additions. The beautiful How To Paint The Portrait of A Bird - a magical tale of dreamy bird love (thank you for the recommend, Jennifer!). And of course, our treasured Bird Song purchased just last year - with the binding falling apart and already in need of duct tape from it's frequent and oh-so-loved use. And the requests to visit the photos in Birds of the World have been increasing each day. And then more waiting.

Then last week, in between the snowfall, we spied our first cardinal pair, frolicking amidst the piles of white, searching for the bits of food.

And just yesterday that we had our first real Spring "bird moment" of the season. Where our little family crowds around the windows or quietly opens the door and tiptoes onto a porch to stare, marvel and wonder at the magic we see. Robins, chickadees, cardinals, a woodpecker (it's type debated heavily amongst the Soule Birders - if only because we're all eager for a good bird debate), and a turkey vulture - all out there yesterday morning at the same time. There was running for the bird books, and the camera....but more than either of those things, there was a lot of watching. And hushed whispers of, "Do you see...?" and "It's a...!". And a lot of big eyes. 10, to be precise.

With big eyes and open windows, we found that silence within - silence that is so rarely found in this noisy house of five. Silence as we closed our mouths and opened our ears and hearts to hear them sing their bird songs.

Oh, I think it's magic. Simply magic.

Comments

[tryshia]

there has been rumors about Robins in the area but i have yet to see one! I love it though, SPRING is in the air.

I love your blog, your photos are awesome.

tryshia,

ottawa, canada

[Kristy]

I may have said before but the day we moved into our house a Woodpecker started making his hole in a tree opposite our window.We are waiting to see if he comes back for the 5th year.No sightings as yet but we have seen a pair of Great Tit squaters.I'm sure he won't be pleased but he does have another hole now in the tree 4 doors down so maybe he won't mind so much.Unlike last year when he turfed them and there little nest right out!

[Lace]

I am thoroughly jealous! I am a Canadian maritimer drifting about in a polluted South American city. Though it has its own ups and charms, birding is certainly not one of them. (unless you include the street pigeons of course!) Here things are very slowly turning into fall (though nothing like the beautiful fall of home). Oh how I nostalgically long for a bit of peace in this noisy place! Thanks for your refreshing magic moment!

[mary]

FANTASTIC photos!!

[mary]

FANTASTIC photos!!

[wayfarer]

I'm soooo glad you posted this! I was just looking for bird books for my son. We have some pinecone feeders out and he loves watching them come. I want to start a log with him. Exciting fun. Thank you so much for the list!

[Geertrude]

I somehow missed the whole bird/spring feeling when my kids were young. We did do some flower spotting every year though; snowdrops, crocusses, daffodils and of course tulips starting to bloom in gardens and parks are signs of spring here in Holland. But now I'll be watching for birds too!

[Kym]

Oh what a beautiful bird that cardinal is. We don't have them in Oregon but have also been really enjoying our spring friends' return. Your description of the that wonderful bird anticipation..."quietly opens the door" brought back the sweet memory of the year I was pregnant and we had robin babies in a nest at one end of our old porch and ruby finch babies at the other. We've lived here a long time and that was the first and last time we had babies actually on the porch. It felt like they were somehow blessing on our own baby that they chose that spring to be with us. Thank you for sharing your special moments.

peace, kym

[Annie]

We haven't had so many birds out back yet but we have had some squirrel hilarity. Last week the squirrel that we've been watching build its nest for months (and months!) decided to move its babies to a new nest. After all that work! Anyway, watching a squirrel climb down deck posts with a big, fat, uncooperative baby squirrel in its mouth- one of the craziest, funniest, most fascinating things ever. I love spring!

[QALBALLAH]

I love the cardinals you lot get. Wish we got them here too. Interesting to see your version of things. Your robins are quite UN-robin like, you know! ;-)

[Cath]

Oh, it's coming, it's coming! (Even if it's minus 10 celsius in Ottawa still!). B received a copy of the Bird Song book for Christmas, and even at 18 months, our chickadee is a fiend for it!

[Berlinswhimsy]

Oh, I wish we had cardinals here---they are so beautiful. Still, we enjoy our robins immensely----I love their songs in the summer evenings... They just returned here, too...

[meredith]

your website and posts are so soothing...I often turn to them in the midst of a busy work day(inner city hospital clinic) for some peace...I'll bet with 3 little ones it doesn't seem peaceful there sometimes but from here it is a haven.thank you

[kristena]

Beautiful cardinal pic! I guess Spring really is coming.

[melissa]

i so enjoyed a peek out of your windows to see the new season's birds. one day, i hope to see a cardinal!

[Claudia]

The kids are so sweet, the birds are just gorgeous and the bird calendar is such a wonderful idea... Thank you, I think we'll make one, too!

[Madeline]

We are still big birders here too. I had never thought about the quiet of it! OF course that is part of its magic. It is a rare occurrence. Great pictures. I'm obsessed with bird pictures this year.

[Kate]

As I'm reading this, there's the prettiest little robin singing the prettiest little song outside my window. Thank goodness for Spring!

[Tracey]

No robins yet here in Colorado, but we did have 17 Black birds squawking in our tree the other day. Very noisy, but cool!

[Linn]

I've been following your blog (a new activity for me in itself) for a month or so now, and just have to tell you that posts like today's just make me such a better mom. Although I live in the suburban OC where the birds are scarce, your post inspires me to get outside and do something creative (in our 75+ degree weather today...fewer birds but warmer temps...so there's the upside, I guess.) My boys (2 and 4) and I all thank you for your inspiration to play and explore together, and I look forward to receiving your book in the mail this week.

[Tina]

We have a new bird feeder and I don't think the birds have found it yet. But, I saw a black-capped chickadee today on the bird feeder for the first time and was so excited! The boys were at school and missed it, so hopefully he will visit us again.

[mrhc]

At our school we've been talking about whether anyone has been listening for the birds to sing in the morning so we know that spring is coming.

My mama loved cardinals which we have in winter here in the midwest. She would have been right at the window with you listening for song and glimpses of color. What joy to see your children enthralled with enjoying and embracing the world around them. Thank you.

[Emily]

I read your lovely post this morning. Then later in the afternoon my daughters and I were at my parents' house playing when we looked out the window to the backyard and saw a beautifully fat robin sitting in one of the trees. We too had a silent moment as we watched one of the great signs of a soon approaching spring!

[Just Pure Lovely]

They've been here all Winter. By the hundreds, those robins. In the farm fields, in the treetops...

And now they are gone.

We'll miss them until next fall, but are so glad they arrived safely to you. Did the bluebirds, too? They left first.

We took good care of them for you.

[Kirsten]

Wonderful that you all share the joy of watching birds, thank you for the lovely taste of spring.

[Carol]

I encountered my first Spring robin 2 weeks ago while walking through a local wooded area. I was disappointed that my little boy wasn't with me at the time. Your photo's are lovely and remind me that my favourite time of the year is putting it's toe through the door.

[rosesmama]

We just read from the library The Boy Who Drew Birds: the story of John James Audubon by JAqueline Davies. Lovely, with inventive illustrations by Melissa Sweet. Is it in the bird basket?

[zoesquid]

Ok Im very jeaous. With Autumn just upon us I know Im being greedy but bring back spring!!!

[Stacey]

you guys should check out A Trail Through the Leaves by A Trail Through the Leaves by Hannah Hinchman for some great inspiration for drawing birds and other animals.

[lunemalo]

Your blog IS magic ! Just been reading the interview on Bloesemkids' site and was wondering if you had ever heard of a french dollmaker making Walldorf inspired raggedy dolls ? I bought one from her for my 3 year old daughter, it's just amazing... Can't wait for your book, hope I'll manage to order it and have it delivered to France !

[Deaf Mom]

My parents have some wonderful birds that frequent their property and I never tire of watching them. Loved the pictures you shared here!

[Deaf Mom]

My parents have some beautiful birds that frequent their feeders--I never tire of watching them when I'm visiting. Love the pictures you shared here!

[Rosie Blitchington Centeno]

I love the photo of the cardinal. my daughter and i were out and took one about three weeks ago. we heard him singing and he flew right to us to finish the song. I always see cardinals as a sign of blessings and being on the right path.

[Sheri]

we are bird fiends over here as well (well, mostly me and my oldest). we drag the others along. thank for this lovely post.