Last week, I woke up before the first rays of sunlight. As I sat with my ritualistic coffee, I heard a cardinal singing to the rising mid-winter sun. The song transported me back to a time when my younger daughter was an infant.
Born in May, Jane arrived with spring in its full glory. The world was alive with floral fragrance, vibrant color and the sounds of birds. Each day, she and I would find ourselves together in a rocking chair at 4 am. We were the only ones seemingly awake in the neighborhood, forging a new relationship as we fumbled in the dark. And every morning, after a few minutes together had passed, like clockwork, a cardinal would start to sing, heralding the sun as it peeked over the horizon and brought its warm light to both of us.
I loved those mornings now decades past. I loved being sung awake with my newborn daughter. I loved the joy that the cardinal’s voice spread throughout our small corner of the world. I loved feeling less alone.
I suspect that many of us our own bird memories—songs heard, species encountered, the smell of the meadow on a particular morning. Birds have a magical way of connecting people to each other and to our own histories.
At Audubon, our stated mission is to protect birds and the places they need. I would argue that our mission is to also to protect birds so that new memories may be made by future generations.
Thank you for your support of Audubon and the birds that help spark joy in all of us.
Suzanne |
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