American Crow, © Photo by Steve Kaye

What and Why | Nov 2020


What I’m Doing


American Crow, © Photo by Steve Kaye, in blog: What and Why

American Crow


“Hey you, with the camera,” the crow called out, “What’re you doing?”

“I’m taking photos of birds,” I replied.

“Why birds?” the crow asked.

“Birds are interesting. They’re pretty. And they’re difficult to photograph.”

“So why go through the trouble?”

“Because I show my photos in presentations, articles, and books to inspire respect for nature. And if people respect the diversity of life that we depend upon, then we might have more kindness.”

“That’s hopeless.” (Crows tend to be blunt.) “During the past 50 years the population of birds has declined by 29% because people are destroying our environment.* And during the past few years there has been a major effort to remove protections for birds, wildlife, and wilderness.” [ * See Below ]

“Yes, I know about these problems. And I cannot let the horror of what is happening control me. If I did that – if I gave up – then we would all lose.”

“But it would be easier to give up.”

“Of course, failure is easier than success. Instead I must find ways to keep going, to persist in making a difference by showing kindness, and to live with purpose, optimism, and hope.”

“Well, good luck.” And the crow flew off.

By the way, this is an uncommonly sincere compliment from a crow.


American Crow, © Photo by Steve Kaye, in blog: What and Why

American Crow


Much success,

Steve Kaye

[ * ] Report on Birds: American Bird Conservancy or Audubon or Scientific American


Find More at:

Birds Strike

What If Nature Was a Business?

Between

Help Birds – 5 Easy Things You Can Do


Did You Know?

The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.

Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.

1) American Bird Conservancy

2) The Nature Conservancy

3) The Trust for Public Land

Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.

Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation


You can help – Please share this blog with others.
Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.

Web Site  |  Presentations  |  Blog  |  Photos  |  Articles


7 Comments
  • Kaye Catherine
    Posted at 16:02h, 05 November

    It’s quite a compliment to get a compliment from a crow.

  • Teri Rider
    Posted at 18:06h, 05 November

    Always on point, my friend. I look forward to your blogs and photos for inspiration. Keep up the great work. And yes, crows do tend to be blunt, don’t they?

  • Flora Brown
    Posted at 18:20h, 05 November

    Hi Steve,

    I always enjoy your posts and photos. Your conversation with the crow is very timely. It was comforting to be reminded ““Yes, I know about these obstacles. And I cannot let the horror of what is happening control me. If I did that – and if I gave up – then we would all lose.”

    Thank you.
    Flora

  • Daphne Radenhurst
    Posted at 04:48h, 06 November

    Thank you for the uplifting message.

  • Archie McLellan
    Posted at 13:51h, 06 November

    This focus on the crow reminded me of the end of Birdsong, the 1993 WW1 novel by Sebastian Faulks. It is regarded as a major literary work in this country – but perhaps not in the US. The title has nothing to do with the book really, but the bird of the song turns out to be a crow (!), although its only appearance is in the beautiful final paragraph of the book:
    ‘He threw up the conkers into the air in his great happiness. In the tree above him they disturbed a roosting crow, which erupted from the branches with an explosive bang of its wings, then rose up above him towards the sky, its harsh ambiguous call coming back in long, grating waves towards the earth, to be heard by those still living.’
    Thanks as always, Steve, for your thoughts and pictures.

  • Tony Gonzalez
    Posted at 18:49h, 14 November

    Love your Birds stories. Alway looking forward reading them.

  • Shel Horowitz
    Posted at 14:55h, 15 November

Post A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.