I do it every year?usually more than once. I get up in the middle of the night and trudge into the darkness, enduring the cold in order to count birds. As Galileo said, ?The language of nature is number.? So we count things. It?s a fowl job counting birds. The weather isn?t always good, but it?s always good to be out. Boxers are sometimes down for the count, but birders are always up for the count. Albert Lea's CBC was held on December 29 and produced 47 species. Birds seen included: Northern Harrier, Hooded Merganser, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbirds, lots of Common Grackles, Northern Shrikes, robins, and more cardinals than counted any other year. My personal highlight was the same that it has been on every CBC I've ever done--seeing whatever bird I happened to see. I find great joy in seeing them all, from the abundant to the rare. The opportunity to see and hear birds is a gift?given to those who seek and find glory in nature. Every bird I spotted was a rare treat. The enchanting sight of a spectacularly feathered creature adds a welcome facet to my soul. The CBC acts as a reminder. I need reminders. We all do. We need to be reminded of the blessings we are given. The Christmas Bird Count is one of the finer things in life. The birds charmed me out of my tree. Al Batt Hartland, MN
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