One of the youngest viewers of my blog is a boy named Benjamin. His grandmother likes to share my photos with him and he especially likes bluebirds. Upon viewing some images of them and seeing their colors, he innocently asked why they aren’t called Orange Bluebirds. Why not indeed? This post is especially for him.
I too love Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and am happy anytime I am able to catch a glimpse of their bright colors. Here are a couple of images of bluebirds that I spotted this past Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (and there is plenty of orange to be seen).
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
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What a great post. In today’s world it is so ice to see multi-generational appreciation and enjoyment of something … especially something as cool as “Orange Birds!”
Here’s a bit of verse to go with Benjamin’s birds. They are beautiful.
Orange and blue? I see you.
Blue and orange? I see you, too!
Lucky Benjamin, seeing your outstanding photos, these gorgeous birds of which you have a talent for making shine. Lucky all of us.
Benjamin is positively ecstatic with his special photos! What a kind thing to do for your little follower. I read the post to him and he says “Thank-you, Mike, for my very own Orange Bluebirds. They are my favorite, I love them the bestest!” He also loves “shoreacres” poem…Thank-you too!
Beautiful, I love these birds.
Gorgeous colours!
I love that Benjamin focused on the orange feathers rather than the blue ones. The rest of us have our focus led by the name whereas your young reader is led only by his own eyes. Blue and orange are, of course, complementary colours so perhaps that is why these birds are so visually appealing.
Thanks, Laura. I can’t help but think of a quote I read recently that was attributed to Picasso. It said something to the effect that all children are born artists–the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up. I’ve been doing some reading on drawing and one of the challenges a beginner like me faces is to stop thinking in terms of symbols (what I think a tree looks like, for example) and draw instead what I actually see. I think Benjamin is of an age where his mind is not yet cluttered by rules and expectations. I long to be able to see like that again.
Picasso was right. We get locked into preconceived ideas, a feeling that verisimilitude is more significant than it is, and develop all sorts of inhibitions, whereas children just create for the sheer joy of it and don’t worry about any of that stuff.
What a beautiful orange bluebirds! Love it. Benjamin is so sweet and a smart boy!
Benjamin has a good eye! And I’m glad he reads your blog.
I think that he may be young enough not to be able to read it himself, but definitely enjoys the wildlife photos. His grandmother, Ellen, indicated in a comment that he was “positively ecstatic” with today’s bluebird photos and the mention in the text. In many ways I strive to retain some semblance of the wonder and curiosity that young kids possess in such great abundance.
I know what you mean. I have a lot of young readers too so I try to keep it interesting on all levels.
It’s hard to beat a bluebird. They’re beautiful!
I read somewhere that young people are losing touch with nature because they spend so much time in front of screens. It is great when we can expose them to some of the beauty we see and hopefully inspire them to explore it on their own.
I agree!
Awww! A post for our sweet Benjamin! Some blue birds visited my feeders today too! They are so stunning!
Thanks, Jodi. We have a young viewer in common and I was thrilled to be able to share some new shots of bluebirds with him. I am always a bit startled when I catch a glimpse of a male bluebird in the sun–the blue color is so incredibly brilliant.
I caught one yesterday on my deck railing in the snow. The photo is a little blurry through the glass door, but I may share as it still is so beautiful. Such a lovely treat to glimpse from the kitchen yesterday.
Beautiful bird, and a good question.
Must be a NY Mets fan. 😀
Benjamin has been revisiting “My Orange Bluebirds” every day. He has been hoping to see one in my backyard from his window seat perch in my kitchen sink. No birds, but we did see our first chipmunk this year.
Super. I love chipmunks. I remember chasing one around for a long time trying to get a photo for some merit badge I was working on a long time ago when I was a boy scout.