A woman once remarked to the famous naturalist John Burroughs that she didn’t have any birds in her garden. Not a one. His response to her was unexpected—he said, “You must have birds in your heart before you can find them in the bushes” (Journal of the Outdoor Life, Vol. 20, p. 137).
Well, I’ve enjoyed casual birding for years. And yes, I thought I had “birds in my heart.” However, I had always wanted to see a Baltimore oriole—particularly the male, with his stunningly gorgeous orange and black plumage. Even though I had lived in oriole territory for almost two decades, I had never seen one. Where were they?
I reveled in the clear view of the oriole’s joyous presence.
