Quarantine & a bird’s song

On this grey, quarantined Saturday morning, I gave myself a gift.

I woke up to the sounds of birds drifting through my window. Birds’ songs to me,  have always been such a welcoming sign of spring; a beautiful addition to blossoming tulips and the bright yellow burst of forsythias budding from the corners of neighbor’s yards. There’s always been one particularly sweet whistle that I’ve loved ever since I was a kid, but I could never name the bird that sang it. I’ve heard its song for years now, which has come to remind me of cool, crisp mornings, as I got ready for school, along with the coo of mourning doves. This morning, I heard him again, and I decided to finally get to know the bird that I’ve learned to love through closed eyes and a cracked window.

This morning, my boyfriend made me homemade chocolate chip waffles, topped with strawberries and bananas —  our Saturday morning tradition. After breakfast, I sat on the couch and looked up backyard New Jersey birds. I found the Eastern Towhee, who encourages you to “drink your tea,” and the Field Sparrow, whose song mimics the dropping of a ping pong ball; with equally spaced chirps that scurry into the hurried flutter of a trill. But I could not find the bird whose song I loved. I listened to their calls, to the bewilderment of my cats. I researched their locations, and looked out from my window. Finally, after about an hour and a half, I found him — the White-Throated Sparrow. I listened to his song, and finally knew who to thank the next time I hear it.

After I found him, I couldn’t help but to feel immensely grateful for this quarantined time. Even though we’re stuck at home, not knowing exactly when this will end, it is nice to use this time to explore some of the unanswered questions we were too busy hurrying through life to answer. I’m sure I would've learned about the White-Throated Sparrow sometime, but the fact is — this weekend — is the time I’ve taken to find it. I hope you too, can use this time to spark a little joy in your days. What have you been meaning to do that you haven’t had time for? Maybe learn a language, or pick up a dusty instrument. Read that book you’ve been meaning to. Dance in the kitchen. Try some new recipes. Start meditating, or play flashlight tag in the backyard with your kids. (Just please, don’t cut your bangs.)

During this quarantine, I will continue to give myself a gift; if only with a morning gaze from out the window of my sunroom,  with a warm, black cup of coffee; expressing gratitude for the acoustics and beautiful sight of spring. I hope during this quarantine, you can give yourself a gift too, because if we’ve learned one thing throughout this pandemic, it’s that every day is a gift, and we’re all this together.

Stay safe, and here’s a gift from me:

Here’s a link from the Press of Atlantic City to some backyard birds you may have seen hop across your yard, and their songs