January 30, 2022
I boarded a train to Liberty State Park on a sunny Sunday morning in January. There’s a view of the Statue of Liberty from the park, so I figured it’d be a fun place to birdwatch. The train dropped me off at a designated Liberty State Park stop and before long, I was walking a charming path dusted with snow. A backside view of Lady Liberty was to my right, framed by a view of the city skyline and an impossibly blue sky.
Despite the perfect silence and serene surroundings, I was having an off day and couldn’t quiet my mind. At one point I romped through the snow to investigate a bird call, leaving my boots soaking wet. Now cranky with wet feet, I decided to surrender and stop trying to force something that wasn’t meant to be. After all, I’d been there for a few hours and still had a long trek back to The City.
On my commute to the train stop, I happened upon a tree full of American Robins and was instantly mesmerized. Any crankiness or lack of inspiration dissipated. The robins stood peacefully, their plump, rust-colored breasts accentuated by the blue sky. I took pictures for the next hour, suddenly oblivious to my cold feet.
I smile thinking about how American Robins turned my mood around. I like to think the bird gods were with me that day.
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Gone Birdin' 