Today we’ll travel with I and the Bird
to discover the most amazing birds.
We’ll marvel at Rio Blanco shots
of Colombian sylphs and hummingbirds.
We’ll see colors galore in Singapore
on a camera-ignoring sunbird.
We’ll have to get stuck in the mud to see
Avocets, Willets and burrowing birds.
Supporting birding teams, we’ll stop to know
the beautiful woods surrounding birds.
Flammulated Owls live beyond rough trails,
but we learn the wild when surveying birds.
Stop for a moment to consider the
vultures, our maligned highway-cleaning birds.
The vibrant beauty of nature’s revealed
by children carefully coloring birds.
Near a hole on a familiar shore, see
Bank Swallows, brown-and-white scolding birds.
In Zion park, we’ll learn the stories of
certain condors, those distant soaring birds.
We’ll brave the coldest snowy days for owls
and hope all life birds will be living birds.
Viewer warning: “Sex and the City Bird”
documents the habits of mating birds.
In a blooming sage garden, time stops for
close looks at Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Recall nature’s red in tooth and claw when
we see crows are squirrel-tongue-eating birds.
Burrowing Owls and roadrunners remind
us of the simple joy of finding birds.
Spend a good day searching for Golden-winged,
Cerulean and other warbling birds.
A witty Straw-necked Ibis has some words.
(Who knew we’d find poetry writing birds?)
We can observe a Red-tailed Hawk’s high nest
and learn all about digiscoping birds.
Strange orange colors on Mallards’ tails pose
questions when we’re closely studying birds.
On the Gulf, pelicans will break our hearts
when we confront loose oil killing birds.
Shearwaters, jaegers and petrels will lead
us to boats for looks at seafaring birds.
We’ll see a Little Gull and lovely terns
on the southwest Queens coast while listing birds
In Madras, we’ll meet pittas and plovers
and sandpipers among the wading birds
“Always be birding,” that’s what we’ll say.
Even in parking lots, we’re finding birds.
That’s it for this trip, I’m signing off. Send
links for the next one to The Drinking Bird.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
[…] Of all the multifarious daunting tasks that go into starting a blog, few are as fraught with peril as choosing a name. The figurative roadside of the information superhighway is littered with the wrecks of websites whose titles failed to seize the imagination. Our own corner of the world wide web, the nature blogosphere seems to favor truth in advertising. The list of previous hosts of I and the Bird leaves no doubt their collective position on nature. I guess that’s why I’m so taken with the name of James Brush’s blog. While there is a story behind Coyote Mercury, the moniker itself comes across as so cool and evocative that one feels compelled to explore the blog. Fortunately, the site lives up to the promise of its name. Find out after you explore James’ poetic presentation of I and the Bird #126. […]
Thanks for hosting this round!
My pleasure. I really enjoyed it.
Nicely done – and quite a variety of topics too!
Cheers
Michael
Thanks, Michael.
Congratulations on penning what I’m sure must be the first-ever blog carnival ghazal!
Thanks, Dave. There have been so many wonderfully creative editions of IATB, I felt compelled to try something different.
That’s the first I’ve ever heard of a ghazal. well done!
Thanks, Susannah. It’s a form I’ve been experimenting with lately. Glad you liked it.
Nice one James, give those greyhounds a pat from me!
Thanks, Duncan, and I will. They demand it. And that’s fine 🙂
I look forward to birding with the carnival this weekend!
And nicely done, your presentation.
A very interesting form the ghazal. I had not heard of it before either, but then, there are many forms of writing I’m sure I don’t know.
I enjoyed your rendition very much and I’m sure I will enjoy the entries as well.
[…] I and the Bird #126 – A poetic take at Coyote Mercury […]
Great edition! Thanks so much for hosting!
Thanks so much. I’ve spent the weekend trying out the carny rides – big fun.
[…] I and the Bird #126 […]
Thanks, y’all. I’m glad you enjoyed the carnival. It was a lot of fun to put together.
[…] the last edition of I and the Bird. I’ve been participating off-and-on for 5 years and even hosted it once. Sad to see it go… […]
[…] and the Bird has run its course. I contributed off-and-on since 2006 and even had the privilege of hosting it once (in ghazal form). The final installment was over at Twin Cities Naturalist. It’s sad to […]