I See A Robin!

When you look at this picture what do you see? The shadowy form of a bird? Obviously, that's what it is, but I see a little bit more. I see an American robin perched in that tree. That's not a remarkable bird to see here, but I was glad to be able to see it and know what it was.

I don't know when this happened but I have gained enough experience that I can identify one of these robins just by looking at its shape. All I saw in that tree was this shadowy shape, but the robin was clear in my mind. That thought was kind of a revelation for me. I really never thought I'd be able to do this.

Here is a little better look at this American robin. You can identify it by its rusty colored red breast, and that white ring around its eye on that black feathered head. You can't see it in these pictures, but the rest of the bird is mostly black, with a little white at the base of the underside of its tail feathers. I was able to write that description just from memory.

Identifying a robin may not seem remarkable to some of you, but think back when you didn't know this bird on sight. Or maybe another bird that you have recently learned to identify. I think I've been able to know when I see a robin for a long time now, but I guess I just took it for granted. I never thought about how much I've learned to be able to do that.

I think I'll have to remember that when I look at other animals. When did I learn to know that I was seeing a robin? Or another animal? When did you? Did you ever really think about how far you have come since you've been watching things of nature? I'm beginning to understand it a little bit.

(The poll results are still living in limbo while I sort out everything in my mind. They'll be coming, but I don't quite know when yet.)