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A couple of weeks ago, a wood thrush banged into one of our windows. Other birds have done the same and recovered, like last summer’s Scarlet Tanager and more recently, this yellow-bellied sapsucker. Keith and I had not seen wood thrushes here at Vanaprastha, though...

Win, Lose, TBD

Yesterday late in the afternoon, I heard another of those sickening thumps on one of the greenhouse windows in our dining room. After days of rain, the sun had come out, making it harder for birds to distinguish windows from forest. I looked on the deck near the dog...

Sorrow and Wonder

Early last Saturday morning, Keith and I heard a drum-like thump on one of the dining room windows. We hoped for the best—a glancing blow. Not this time. “This is so sad,” Keith said as he picked up the body on the deck below the window, “come see.” It was a male...

Spring Forward

Last week, the weather was warm enough for my husband and I to eat outside on the deck, and at night to sleep with our windows open. We woke in the morning to the sound of a phoebe singing a spring song. I imagined the male bird advertising his availability. Then I...