Beltane snuck((OK, “sneaked,” if you don’t like vernacular irregular conjugations.)) up on me this year.
While much of Colorado had more snow than usual, here on the creek we did not. It was cold, dry, and windy week after week. Finally, a combination of rain and wet snow brought two inches (5 cm) of water at the beginning of last week, which is something, but we are still officially in severe drought.
Sunday night, M. and ate supper on the southwest-facing front porch — it was finally warm enough to do that. We looked at the birds flitting around, notably the broad-tailed hummingbirds, who arrived a week later than average, having propelled their thumb-sized selves all the way from Mexico or further south. We wondered when the black-headed grosbeaks might arrives and make it really summer.
I went inside and was checking Facebook for local news when this graphic from the National Weather Service office down in Pueblo popped up.
Beltane? The Turning of the Wheel? There it was, a green blotch of northward flying birds.
Talk about the Invisible World
, well, this one is invisible to most people.
Despite what we do with habitat destruction and light pollution, the birds follow their Ancient Ways. Despite what we do. They. Keep. Trying.
I sat at the laptop with my eyes full of tears.
Check for bird migration in your area (Continental US only) at BirdCast.
And turn off the outdoor lights that you don’t absolutely need.