Reflection

This spring, a bluejay nest situated itself right outside my apartment in a nearby tree. Momentary flashes of blues stealing the peanuts I had left out on my windowsill for squirrels, or a pause of the curious bird as they examined the nut, foreshadowed the arrival of the nest. Though they weren’t my original intended recipient of the peanuts, I quickly grew to love their fleeting visits. This nest and opportunity to observe them more frequently marked my growing appreciation of birds and birdwatching (perhaps 30 years too early!). While birdsongs had always been something I had appreciated- as a friendly morning song or a background melody to a walk- I now pay close attention to the different tunes and shapes above me. Birds, along with the trees I captured in this illustration, play equally vital roles in the livability of my urban environment. However, climate change brings with it drastic threats to bird numbers. As temperature warm and weather patterns continue to shift, innumerable changes will be seen in a bird’s behavior and a population’s reproductive success. Egg laying habits will change, habitat opportunities decrease, and food sources will dwindle. To help my local bird families, I leave out healthy food such as sunflower seeds, millet, and of course, more peanuts. As years pass and temperatures continue to rise, birds have to migrate farther and farther to reach locations suitable for their survival. The birds we have all grown accustomed to (love them or fear them), and their pleasant songs and appearances, will soon become a rarity as climate change advances forward. Painting this scene solidified my desire to help curb this issue.