We birders are a sadistic lot. O, I know we appear to be tree-huggers and avian protectors and environmental gurus, but there is a deep-seated nature about us that is not so nice. Let me explain: In the spring of the year here in Rockport, birds by the millions come through this area. They are not bent on staying in Rockport. They are heading for many of the places our RV'ers are pointed to. They are flying North and East. When the birds arrive in our area they have flown for hundreds of miles, often across portions of the Gulf of Mexico. They are tired and hungry, but given a brisk tailwind, they will often simply keep flying on by us to some inland woods for their respite. They have had the tailwinds of late...maybe galewinds would better describe it.
Last evening a "wet" norther came blowing in. "Damp" might better describe it. It did not leave much water but the wind is brisk and from the north this morning. That builds the exciting possibility for we sadistic birders of a "fallout". We are hoping,(me included), that the winds in their tiny faces were such that these little travelers will STOP and get their R&R in Rockport. We do not wish them badly. That is not the idea. We do secretly wish for them to run out of gas when they reach the shoreline and decide to spend a few days, building back their strength.
We are not unlike the folks who pay big bucks to see NASCAR races. They don't go just to see fancy painted cars and famous drivers. They do not go hoping for people to be killed or maimed, but they DO GO for the crashes. When the crashes stop, the people stop going. That is a bit sadistic, don't you think? It carries over to our viewing pro ball. We like the "heavy" hits and the bodies crashing against each other. It even goes to our shopping sprees on "black Friday" after Thanksgiving. Pushing and screaming and fighting for the last marked down item brings out the worst in us.
Perhaps it even carries over in our religious pilgrimage as we kinda' like to hear about all the "bad" things that may happen before the Return. We are secure in that it won't happen to us for we will be whisked away. I wonder.
Anyway, birders will scan the trees and yards in hours ahead looking for colorful warblers who may have been traveling last night until they hit a stiff north wind. My binos are at ready.
