Feathered vs fluffy

As many of you know, I am a little obsessed with tabby cats. But this month I have been looking upward and embracing our feathered friends.

Yes, The Aussie Bird Count concluded late October and over six days, I and many fellow nature lovers, looked to the skies, the lakes, ponds, estuaries and the ground … grassy nature strips, parks and our backyard lawns or decking, to count these beautiful sentient beings.

Majestic blackbirds, authoritative and focused magpies, delinquent wattlebirds swaying upside down on bottlebrushes, noisy cockatoos discussing their next destination, exquisitely coloured rosellas dashing from tree to tree, always in a cheerful rush, and my two adorable doves transfixed with each other, who have been visiting me daily for years.

The Aussie Bird Count is not only a most enjoyable community service, but much, much more. Twenty minutes dedicated to bird watching is a meditation on life and nature.

Let’s continue on! During our daily walks, get rid of those distracting ear buds, mobile phones and observe the sounds and sights all around us. Let’s look up, down and around and embrace our furry, our fluffy, and our feathered friends … a gentle and reassuring way to start or end our busy days.

An alert walking meditation consciously aware of all of our fellow, living beings is an honourable practice indeed.