How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher - Simon Barnes
I might be in the middle of a conversation of amazing importance about the Direction of Our Marriage, but my eye will flick out of the window at a hint of movement, caught in the tail of my eye, and I will register: bloody hell, sparrowhawk. I might say it out loud too—-not necessarily a wise decision.
He has some lovely passages about the glory of birds, but the book is also a rather touching portrait of his relationship with his father, who originally inspired his interest in birdwatching. They have (or had) a slightly awkward relationship, it seems, but their shared love of birds gave them something in common, something to talk about.
Just this morning I was standing at the bus stop in the gloomy pre-dawn light, and marvelling at the contributors to the dawn chorus gamely trying to make themselves heard over the roar of the traffic. At this time of year, they’re particularly welcome as heralds of the coming Spring. Now, I know that what they’re really doing is yelling at their male neighbours to get the hell off their territory (or else), and trying to impress the females, but what I hear is: “Welcome back, Persephone. How was the Underworld? Been a bit nippy while you’ve been away.”
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I like watching common birds.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 11/02/2006 5:02 pm • Permalink •
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Mr. D.: I do too
Jonathan Briggs: I think you're thinking of Ariadne, who gave Theseus some magic thread so that he could find his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth.
by bsag @ 11/02/2006 5:02 pm • Permalink •
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Of course, Ariadne auf Naxos - You were refering to that Persephone, the one on an occasional holiday from Hades, that well known dive of ill repute...... She didn't need a ball of string.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 11/02/2006 8:02 pm • Permalink •
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My room is right at the roof top of a 5-storey building. Here in our place itâs already one of the TALLEST and so everyday I get to see glimpse from all streets in the city from my place. But what I love the most is every morning I am awakened by the chirping of the birds outside my window. When I get up and look out all of them will then fly away as if I have disturbed their peaceful living. Well, I donât care really because seeing a flock of birds flying altogether in mid-air is so relaxing; a sure way of relieving stress.
But as time passes by, the scene gets so boring. I would want something more than just looking from them from afar. I donât have a telescope. So this book of yours is really timely. I wish this can provide me all the necessary information that I want to know about bird watching.
John
by Portrait Photography @ 06/10/2006 2:11 am • Permalink •
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