Thursday, September 30, 2010

Watching The Birds

Wow! Look at me! Two posts in only a week. I've even been able to leave a few comments here and there. I still can't do very much yet though, because after only a little effort my head feels like it will explode. So I made a plan to slowly get back to commenting on my favorite blogs, and writing posts when I'm up to it. So if you haven't seen my name in your comments section yet, then it's only a matter of time.

It makes me happy every time I can read a blog and leave a comment, even if it's only a little bit at a time so far. Every time is a small step back for me. I'll tell ya, it's a strange feeling to feel effort and discomfort by simply trying to think in a normal way. I usually get headaches and dizziness, and I get so hot that I have to sit in front of a fan after only trying to use my mind. It's really frustrating, but at least not thinking takes no effort.

Still, I feel the need to stretch my horizons bit by bit right now. So I was glad when I was able to go out and sit on my porch for a little while today. There's not much nature immediately outside my house, mainly because of the busy street and all the people around, but there is a small amount.

So what did I see out there? I saw sparrows! There were about a dozen of them lined up underneath the edge of a parked car, and they were all standing there staring at me. It was the strangest thing. I guess they didn't fly away because I wasn't moving very much, but they hid from anyone else. They really liked it there under that car.

There were also a few on the rooftops, like the one in these pictures. And a few birds in the trees. They didn't seem to notice me at all. But the sparrows under the car seemed to be very interested in me. I always wonder what an animal is thinking when it shows interest in a human.

I know what we humans think when we are interested in a particular animal. But what do the animals think? Is it similar to our thoughts? I met a deer once that seemed to try to lure me closer to it. Others have been aggressive towards me. I've also had similar encounters with birds.

Sometimes we look at an animal and we think, "Oh, what a beautiful creature!" I wonder, do animals ever think that of us? Or do they just see us as either a threat or a food source. I'd like to think their thoughts are more complex than that last thought.

Maybe other animals aren't as intelligent as us in the way we think of intelligence. But maybe they have an intelligence that is just different. We all say that each person is special in their own way, so I think that can be true for each animal as well. All have something that makes them great. Every species. Every individual.


Nature Center Magazine - Take a look and see what's new. I've been posting a few of my past writings from The Everyday Adventurer here, along with everything else. I try to pick the best, but I'll let you decide.

22 comments:

  1. Oh, animals have an intelligence totally different from humans! If a human tried to do bird things, or deer things, or squirrel things, they would fail miserably, and the bird, deer or squirrel would think the human was totally stupid. How do I know this? After living with humans and watching them try to do cat things, it only makes sense that it would go across the board.

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  2. glad to see more often, it's a good sign. take care and take things slowly, we all can wait. :)

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  3. hi, nice birds post. followed you hope you do the same. cheers!

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  4. You are waxing philosophical, dear Ratty, and it is ever so good to see you back in the saddle, so to speak. It's funny, I, too, wonder what animals think of us. And fish, when we're looking at them in an aquarium. Do they think they are free and we're behind glass.

    Take it slowly! The little sparrows are cute.

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  5. cool bird shots, my daughter loves to see birds everytime there are birds flying near us she keeps on shouting.

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  6. Don't stare too much at the sparrow, I get dizziness after seeing eye-to-eye with it.

    It is a witch..

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  7. Most wild animals, and domestic ones as well, have fully developed instinctual intelligence. The fact is that instinct and intelligence occupy the same general area of the brain. As we humans became more intelligent we lost much of our instinctual capabilities. Not so sure it always an advantage. Intelligence has not proven itself to be very wonderful for the rest of this planet.

    On another note, it sounds like your recovery is slow but steady. Don't become too discouraged. It must be frustrating, but making yourself experience whatever you can will keep your spirits bright and your heart light.

    Bill:www.wildramblings.com

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  8. I know what you mean about seeing "small" amount of nature where we live. It's there if we really look for it! Very cute bird, Ratty!

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  9. Great post, Ratty! I love house sparrows. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, I would watch them, fascinated, for long spells. Along with possums, robins, grasshoppers, and grey squirrels, they were my first studies as a young naturalist. Even now I love to hear them sing in January oblivious to cold and ice. Thanks for putting the spotlight on them, and glad to have you back reporting on nature where ever you see it.

    Na

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  10. I often have thought that birds are just as curious about us as we are about them. It would be cool to know for sure what they are thinking.
    It is great that you are able to enjoy sitting outside and take a few pictures of the House Sparrows. May each day bring you closer to a full recovery!

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  11. The weather is something not to miss , it has been gorgeous here.I like to wear a jacket one day and be in shorts the next.Sparrows have joined forces and are flocking, I have a group of at least 50 in my backyard each day. Yesterday I watched a grackle in the middle of 4 lanes each way, catch the light so it could eat someones discarded fast food.

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  12. Finally, those little English sparrows are good for something! To make you happier. Wishing for you a way to get out for a small excursion while the weather is still crisp and sunny.

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  13. I've often wondered what birds and animals might be thinking as well. I'm sure their thoughts aren't quite the same as ours but still there must be something. Love the sparrow shots.

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  14. Ratty, so good to see you posting. Those sparrows are adorable and yes, I always wonder what the little critters are thinking. Great to have you back.

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  15. Some lovely shots of the sparrows ratty and great to see you posting again...we have sparrows in our porch roof all year round but I have never photographed them...it's really funny in the spring when the parents push the little ones out for their first flights!!

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  16. It is amazing at what life there is in your own surroundings. You really don't have to go far to find creatures--you just have to stop and look. I love to find new visitors (well, unless they are trouble-making raccoons!) in my yard.

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  17. glad to know you are slowly taking the time to see the beautiful world outside your doors, take your time about blogging and visiting, what is more important is you get better soon.

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  18. Thank you all for your comments. I really appreciate them extra right now. I'll try to have another post up soon. And I'm still trying to leave you guys a few comments of my own too. I'm still having a bit of trouble though, so everything is still kind of slow going.

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  19. Looking at nature is the best therapy to recover speedily :)

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  20. Such a cute chubby birdie. It's great that you getta see so many birdies just outside your home. Life's a bliss when you have a patch of nature on your doorstep.

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  21. I love the little sparrows...but they are one of the hardest kinds of birds to "tell apart" because there are many,many kinds and a lot of their markings are similar.

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