Friday, June 04, 2010

Surrounded By Starlings

On my walk the other day, I came across a flock of starlings busily pecking in the rain-softened earth of a newly planted cornfield. On some cue I could not discern, the birds suddenly decided to move to the other side of the road and I found myself completely surrounded by starlings. Their exuberant chirping and the synchronous beating of hundreds of wings enchanted me. I wanted nothing more than to lift my arms in joyous imitation.

There are days when I would gladly resign as an adult and be a child again, giving in unthinkingly to the moment, dancing to the music of bird wings. As I stood gazing at the starlings, it occurred to me that our ability to think too much about a thing does not always serve our best interests. I looked hastily around, saw that the farmer who had been puttering about the nearby barn was nowhere in sight, and in a moment was twirling about in the middle of the deserted road, happy as the starlings that flew all around me.

The sun at their backs, their shadows flew along the ground below them, mirroring in silhouette the beating, pulsing wings. Like all moments of sudden and unexpected beauty it startled my heart into seeing and was over too soon. I stood and watched the birds swoop and rise and swoop again, wishing I too, could fly, wishing that I knew exactly where I was going and how to get there, pulled like the starlings by an instinct I didn’t have to ponder.


Go here to read another post about starlings and see a phenomenal video.


photo credit: lancaster.unl.edu/.../ Animals/starlingroost.jpg 







Thanks for this,  Hilary!



22 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles. you captured that moment beautifully...i agree...and would dance with starlings any day...

Tabor said...

Thank you for taking me there!!

Barbara said...

Starlings get a bad rap. I hope you continue to twirl and flutter as you remember your encounter with THE BIRDS!

Anonymous said...

This pins down the experience perfectly, Pauline. That ultimate human aspiration - flight!

Marion said...

I'm so glad you danced and twirled with the starlings...it sounds awesome. A moment of freedom and joy...you've described it perfectly!

Thank you for being so attuned to your surroundings, Pauline, and for sharing it with us!

Ruth said...

Oh I love this, Pauline. You describe it perfectly. I had a similar experience, which I posted about some time ago. There is a video in my post which you must watch!

It's here.

Pauline said...

Brian - despite their poor reputation, I love starlings. They are so magical in flight!

Thanks for coming along, Tabor!

Barbara - no fear of these birds. It was such a cool moment.

Dick - exactly how I felt - oh, if only I could fly!

Marion - and thank you for coming to read and comment :)

Ruth! What a spectacular video! Thanks for directing me to your own delightful starling post - I've added a link at the bottom of mine :)

20th Century Woman said...

Moments of joy are so rare. It's good to know starlings can bring one.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Pauline! I can't tell you how many times I've watched that video. :)

steven said...

pauline the video is stunning! feeling the childlike is a gift that people let go of - even children let go of it - far too soon and for the simplest of reasons usually - embarassment. it's the fine line between childlike and childish that pushes most to abandon the innocence - which can be an informed and worldly innocence - and the openness. i'm glad you welcomed yours!! steven

Hilary said...

So beautiful, Pauline. I love how you captured the moment in words.. much as the video did. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful event.

Nishant said...

This pins down the experience perfectly
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Paul C said...

What a beautiful orchestration of nature.

King of New York Hacks said...

A great place to be...thanks for putting me in the thick of it. ;-)

Cricket said...

Unless you become as one of these little ones, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

There's a lot to that, I think. Congratulations on the potw.

Daryl said...

What a wonderful thing, to give into the feeling that engulfed you ... lovely. And congrats on the POTD mention

Nancy said...

Joy. Pure joy. Love it!

Congrats on POTW.

Joanna Jenkins said...

"There are days when I would gladly resign as an adult and be a child again, giving in unthinkingly to the moment, dancing to the music of bird wings...."
A girl can dream. Wouldn't that be nice :-)

Congrats on your POTW mention. This is wonderful.
jj

Anonymous said...

Isn't it marvellous, and are we not lucky, that we can still wonder at the beauty of nature?

A POTW mention too...congrats.

Pauline said...

Steven - every day, every day

Hilary - glad you could enjoy it vicariously and thanks for the POTW mention!

thanks for coming by and reading, nishant

Paul - those birds are amazing!

KNYH - anytime ;)

Cricket - I so longed to be one of them!

thank you Daryl, and you, too, Nancy

Joanna - seems I'm always wishing that!

Moannie - lucky indeed!

Leah J. Utas said...

I'd love to resign as an adult.
A well-deserved POTW.

Anonymous said...

An ordinary moment made special by the word picture you drew! Excellent!