This beautiful Steller’s jay landed near me in a park last week. As I watched him, I had a wondering about birds that live among people…city birds. Why do they stay near people? Why don’t they choose to live out in wild places where the air is purer and the water is more pristine?
My logical mind offered immediate answers…maybe they’re attracted by bird feeders and discarded human food, or maybe they hatched nearby and prefer to remain near their birthplace.
Then it struck me. Perhaps city birds are on a mission. Maybe they’re ambassadors for the Earth, and their purpose is to highlight the natural world all around us. As I glanced around, I realized that the Spirit of the Earth is everywhere. We find Her among street trees, flowers, plants, stones, and the animals we pass each day.
Maybe city birds are like the sirens of old, reminding us to take notice of the natural world that surrounds us no matter where we are.
Perhaps every chirp and every caw is designed to entice us, and to call us back to the Spirit of the Earth.
And She’s always there, waiting, ready to welcome us home. I love that…
(New photos on website Gallery: wandernature.com/new-photos)