Did you know that 462 species of birds are found across Canada? Or of that number, 362 can be found in British Columbia. In Ontario 318 species are regular visitors. Now that's a lot of feathers and, um, droppings. (If you have any doubt about that, I challenge you to visit a park or beach where Canada geese preceded you. That definitely makes for a slippery trek.)
Avibase, the World Bird Database, claims an impressive database of over 5 million records detailing 10,000 species of birds worldwide. Anyway you figure it, that's a lot of blue jays, starlings, cockatoos, pigeons, titmouses (titmice?) ... you get the idea.
We name a lot of things after birds. For examples, there's yhe Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team, the people kind of snowbirds who mitigate icy winters by spending them down south and "snowbird insurance" designed to further cushion their timely vacation. We have brown owl clubs for those who are interested in doing crafts, the Canary Islands (although those idyllic lands were not named for the birds) and of course there's that almost derogatory phrase, "feathering the nest".
Living by the edge of the Pacific Ocean gives me many opportunities to marvel at sea birds soaring on air currents. Migrating birds flock in our trees on their way to who knows where and swallows stand wing to wing, cumulatively weighing down telephone wires.
I find it comforting to know that watching birds is not only fascinating, it's an act of obedience. Look at the birds, Jesus told his audience and went on to remind them that he even takes note when one of them falls.
"Behold the fowls [birds] of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
Afraid of tomorrow? Watch the birds!
