What strange days we are living in! We here at BirdTheRock hope you are doing well, staying safe & healthy, and managing to find some solace in nature when/where you can. If you happen to be an essential worker — THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for everything you are doing to keep us safe and our world moving. If, like us, you are lucky enough to do your part by staying home – thank you as well for doing just that.
No matter where you find yourself during this pandemic, these are challenging and unsettling times. Many individuals and families are struggling with the health impacts of COVID-19, and our hearts go out to them. Many others, especially my friends and colleagues in the tourism & hospitality industry, are faced with a staggering loss of employment and the uncertainty of when (or even if) things will get back on track. I hope and trust that, by working together and supporting each other, we will rise out of this with renewed energy, strength and purpose. Thank you to everyone supporting small, local businesses in your own cities, towns and neighbourhoods during these tough times.
Spring is slowly rolling in here in Newfoundland, with or without our watchful gaze. Migration is well underway, and pretty soon our forests, lakes, barrens and seabird colonies will be bustling. I can’t wait to say hello to many of my favourite birds – like this Atlantic Puffin 🙂
But nature keeps on truckin’, and spring is arriving (mostly) on schedule. I was (and still am!) looking forward to a busy season of enjoying nature and sharing amazing birds, wildlife & scenery with so many of you this year — but I know that much of that will have to be postponed for the time being. In fact, I would normally be preparing for my first trip of the season next week – leading a fantastic Eagle-Eye Tours trip to experience spring migration at Ontario’s Point Pelee National Park, Algonquin and many points between. I’ll very much miss being there this year, but here are a few photos from previous trips to remind you (mostly me!) of how wonderful it is 😉 (More photos from the 2019 tour are available here.)
I do hope that things return to normal sooner than later, and that I’ll still be able to welcome some visiting birders to Newfoundland later this summer. In any case, I’ve been busy planning and am excited for the time when we can go exploring together again.
Like you, I have also been adjusting to the “new normal” – spending lots of quality time at home with my family, focusing on the importance of those around me, and occasionally getting out to enjoy nature in safe and responsible ways. My family & I wish you all the best during these uncertain times.
Bird⋅The⋅Rock 