Migratory Bird Day & Creation's Wonder

Back in February this night time image from over Florida was shared by the United States National Weather Service. It captures a vast flyover of birds, 145 kilometres in diameter, which was an early part of the Spring migration northward.

Here in Southern Ontario birds have been arriving or moving through to their summer nesting places. Even with the disturbing decline of songbirds and other bird species in North America, billions still make this extraordinary pilgrimage, some from the tip of South America to the Arctic. Two days ago a Baltimore Oriole visited one of our feeders for a pit-stop, then was gone. I'm hoping that the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds will show up soon. 

This migration and those akin to it around the planet are what I consider natural miracles, the rhythmic cycles of life of which we are often barely aware. Yes, I realize that these migrations are an aspect of evolution, although scientists still have a limited understanding of why and how. I also celebrate the Creator when I witness the return of creatures. There are also magnificent migrations of butterflies and dragonflies. 



 During these pandemic days more people are paying greater attention to birds because they have the time to be attentive, and because of the cessation of urban noise which allows them to be heard. The ability to pay attention is an essential aspect of the contemplative life. Surely watching birds allows all of us to become contemplatives, to a degree, whatever our religious sensibilities. 

The excellent nature writer, Tim Dee, has a new book called Greenery in which he observes "Birds don’t carry bags. Nor passports. That is often the first thing I say when people ask me why I like them so much.” 

Tomorrow is World Migratory Bird Day with the theme Birds Connect Our World. It brings to mind the words of the United Church statement of faith called A Song of Faith

Finding ourselves in a world of beauty and mystery,

   of living things, diverse and interdependent,

   of complex patterns of growth and evolution,

   of subatomic particles and cosmic swirls,

we sing of God the Creator,

the Maker and Source of all that is.

Each part of creation reveals unique aspects of God the Creator,

   who is both in creation and beyond it.

All parts of creation, animate and inanimate, are related.

All creation is good.

We sing of the Creator,

   who made humans to live and move

   and have their being in God.

Baltimore Oriole