Getting To Know You

birdwatching, blogging, challenge, photography, , , 32 Comments

Who doesn’t love a bird? Their sweet songs, flitting natures, and ability to soar all admirable qualities. The years I was bedridden, my husband installed multiple feeders outside my window and I thrilled at my little visitors. He also set me up with a camera and tripod, but I had never been a good photographer, and couldn’t remember the last time I’d tried. So I left the picture taking to him….until he drove me south….then everything changed.

He signed us up for a birdwatching club and loaned me his camera. Here is my first attempt:

Point and shoot automatic cameras changed my life. I became obsessed.

American White Pelican

Although, I still spent much of my time in bed, the drive to get up and get out the camera grew. Plus, when I was lying down, I had a whole new interest to engage me.

That was four years ago. I have regained enough strength to stay out of bed longer. I drive again. I continue to pursue and learn about birds. Photography opened the door to so many questions – how do males differ from females, and what do the young look like, and what do birds eat, and where do they go when they are not here, and so on…

A breeding male Roseate Spoonbill

Featured photo is a new to me bird, taken on a short foray into the woods, near a lake. Still getting to know these wonderful winged creatures.

(For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Getting to Know You, hosted this week by scillagrace.

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Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

32 thoughts on “Getting To Know You”

  8. Birding is wonderful. It is something everyone regardless of abilities can partake in on some level. Your husband had the right idea! Today, I was entertained by one bully robin battling all the others that attempted to share in the bird bath.

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  9. Lovely post VJ, and it certainly helped us together to know you better. Your husband must be a very special guy, and what a wonderful gift he gave you – the desire to learn photography and as well as the intricacies of the beautiful winged creatures with which we share our world. Don’t you just love the spoonbills?! They’re so unique. I must admit I’m drawn to them and to the other wading birds more that the little ones, about which I know very little.

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  13. Thank you for joining the challenge and sharing your relationships…to birds, photography, your life journey, and your wonderfully supportive husband! It’s great to see that you are sustained in your recovery. Great post! Wishing you all the best. 🙂

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