{"id":259,"date":"2018-09-14T19:33:45","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T19:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/?p=259"},"modified":"2022-03-31T20:24:49","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T20:24:49","slug":"birds-sitting-on-gravestones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/index.php\/2018\/09\/14\/birds-sitting-on-gravestones\/","title":{"rendered":"Birds Perched on Gravestones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Blue Jay<\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Life is but a stopping place, a pause in what's to be, \nA resting place along the road to sweet eternity. <\/em>\nWe all have different journeys, different paths along the way. <\/em>\nTo learn some things, but never meant to stay.<\/em>\n   -Author unknown<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Mockingbird<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Old Burying Ground<\/a> in Beaufort, North Carolina, was established more than 300 years ago to be the final resting place for town residents. Now it’s a local landmark that has become home to many different birds. It’s my favorite place to explore with a camera!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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There is something intriguing about seeing a vibrant, active bird, perched momentarily on an ancient gravestone. Such a solid, sturdy structure inevitably catches the eye of a bird in flight or perhaps from a perch high in the trees. It offers an inviting landing site close to the ground, where food is abundant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRest O weary traveler\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gray Catbird<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Gray Catbird<\/strong> (above) has chosen this particular gravestone as a resting place. How can you tell? He\u2019s standing on one leg only. He has tucked the other leg up into the body feathers, thereby assuming a resting position. At least one leg gets a rest from a long day of standing. I admire how birds are able to stand on a single leg for long periods of time, even overnight, without losing their balance! Here are two others at rest…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Cardinal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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American Robin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Flat-topped gravestones make excellent perches, as demonstrated by a variety of bird species\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Eastern Bluebird<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brown Thrasher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Mockingbird<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
An arched or gently curving surface seems to be equally appealing as a perch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Cardinal<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Gray Catbird<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Great-crested Flycatcher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Carolina Wren<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I have observed that any gravestone, whether curved or flat, simple or ornate, sculpted or pointed, is a potential perch. The shape of the surface seems to have little effect on a bird’s decision about where to land. There are so many choices…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Brown Thrasher<\/strong> on an ornate stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brown Thrasher<\/strong> on a scroll-topped stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Blue Jay<\/strong> on a spherical topped stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brown Thrasher<\/strong> on a spherical topped stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Mockingbird<\/strong> on an extra-large orb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Blue Jay<\/strong> on a cross-topped stone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The graveyard is a study in contrasts!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
My eye is attracted to the contrasts I see through the lens as I compose a photograph. There’s the soft warmth of a living creature paired with the cold hardness of stone… <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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American Robin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There’s the delicate lightness of a small winged animal compared to the grounded heaviness of gravestones…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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European Starling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There’s the transitory pause in movement versus the unchanging permanence of a grave marker…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gray Catbird<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There’s the bird’s colorful plumage opposed to the drab grayness of granite… <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Cardinal<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There’s the contrast between this present moment in our lives versus the memorialized past recorded in stone…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Great-crested Flycatcher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
 The unexpected can happen…<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So far, only two birds have surprised me, when I encountered them on gravestones. Both birds normally stay high up in the trees, making the unusual decision to descend for some unknown reason — a woodpecker and an owl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Flicker on a gravestone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Great Horned Owl on a gravestone<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth. Then I ask myself the same question.<\/em> <\/strong> <\/span><\/p>Harun Yahya<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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Want to read more about these graveyard birds?                  Select from these…<\/h4>\n\n\n\n