Living in the North Country, Boundary Effects is a blog by Austin Jantzi. Though a physicist, I write mostly about books, sometimes about music, but generally about whatever I find interesting.

Common Birds 39 - Chimney Swift

Common Birds 39 - Chimney Swift

Austin Jantzi
Common Birds, Nature Writing

Wednesday, August 9

Today is ruled by the wind.

I’m in the parking lot behind the Children’s Health Center. Amelia and our son are in a mommy and me meeting. I am sitting on a picnic bench with cold coffee and wind-ruffled hair. A crescent moon is overhead. The rushing air crashes into the surrounding trees, the invisible made visible by the swaying bodies and snapping leaves. I suddenly have a vision of sunlight doing the same as the wind, crashing like an exuberant ocean and scattering soundlessly on the leaves, trunks, blades, clouds, and moon.

I see the birds that love the sky. The crescents of chimney swifts circle against the pouring clouds. Mourning doves flash by, white in the noon light. 

Occasionally, a black capped chickadee peaks with trepidation at the roiling world and decides to stay close to home.

We’ve been staying close to home, too, little chickadees. Our life is ruled by our son. And we love our baby boy, as the swift loves the sky.

Common Birds 40 - Cooper's Hawk

Common Birds 40 - Cooper's Hawk
Common Birds 38 - Goldfinches

Common Birds 38 - Goldfinches