Today's experience was remarkable. The pair of Cape May Warblers at dawn would have been enough. The flight was not huge, or even big by late-August standards, but it was present, and drawing the enjoyment out of that presence was worth a great deal to today's watchers at dawn. A nice variety was to be had and put our attention to the test. Also, just like the last few days, kingbirds swirled periodically over the treetops to the south.
One hundred and twenty-four years ago, today, with respect to the activity of the songbirds, might not have been too much different than today. We now can rediscover this in the accounts of Witmer Stone as presented in an exciting new book by Scott McConnell. Scott visited the dike today and shared with me what significance this day holds. Transfixed with an exploration of the ornithological history and one particularly notable local legend, Scott has accomplished a great feat of natural history research and writing. His new book, Witmer Stone: The Fascination of Nature provides us now with a direct link to the man and his birding references that live on today.
Check out his blog and this particular post about, perhaps eventually, the unfolding future of the Morning Flight Project, seen with his fresh and beholden eyes back 124 years ago.
And maybe a kingbird or 400 kingbirds, like on today's anniversary, will swirl and swarm for you.
 |
| photo by: Glen Davis |
No comments:
Post a Comment