Happy February my nature loving friends. Ken Hall here, aka Bird Nut.
Being asked to help out my friends at the Neighborhood Gazette by sharing short articles about my passion for nature can be tough when it comes to finding subject matter for one of my least favorite months of the year. I usually continue my nature walks until something inspiring piques my curiosity. I have always had an overload of curiosity. I look at that as a blessing—my parents likely not so much during my younger, more curious years.
After a month of wanderings, I found inspiration in a rather unlikely place. Leaving the grocery store the other day, I was drawn to a cacophony (that means noise) all around me. Ring-billed gulls and crows must have been celebrating someone’s out-the-window litter treats. I sat for a while watching, predominantly the crows—dipping and diving, celebrating with many versions of a familiar song: “caw, caw, caw.” At that moment, inspiration hit me right between the eyes as I realized how little I knew about these familiar birds. Curiosity kicked in, and I was amazed at what I found…