“Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?” — David Attenborough
With the new year right around the corner, it’s time for a birding retrospective. Bold red cardinals, unbelievably blue bluebirds and sunny yellow goldfinches are frequent visitors to many backyards across the country. But what’s the one thing they all have in common? They bring a sense of wonder and joy into our lives simply by flying across our paths. Now what insights can we gain by watching our feathered friends? Let’s find out with this list of fifteen life lessons we can learn from birds:
- Be present and aware of your surroundings
- Spend time in nature
- Take care of yourself and preen your feathers
- Sing your song, so others can hear you
- Seize the moment (and grab that sunflower seed!)
- Notice the small things, like red feeding ports on a hummingbird feeder
- Explore your local offerings (for a quick dip or a snack!)
- Make sure you eat enough protein
- Eat fresh food in-season, as often as you can
- Travel to a warmer location, as needed
- Cling to what you can, while learning to let go
- Use your available resources
- Exercise your freedom of choice
- When something’s not right, fly away
- Keep moving forward
Whether your backyard birds migrate or stay year-round, we can gain valuable insights from the birds we see everyday. What’s the most surprising life lesson you’ve learned from your birds? Or what’s your favorite “life lesson” from the list above? Let us know and share your story in the comments.
Happy Birding!
“Real natural habitats provide significant sources of pleasure for modern humans.” — Paul Bloom, “Natural Happiness,” The New York Times
Written by Dawn Coutu
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