Birding in Morro Bay, California.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
It was my first solo trip…
My first time driving there, staying in a hotel, and attending events by myself - knowing absolutely no one. I was intimidated by the thought of it. I began by driving the four hours it took to get there. Just getting back from the holidays, a whirlwind had happened in my personal life, and my mind needed to process it. What was I doing with my life? Where did I want to go with my photography? How would I get there? I pondered these difficult questions as I drove along the California coast: oceans, mountains, beaches, towns.. First Santa Monica, then Santa Barbara, then San Luis Obispo, up to Morro Bay.
Am I officially a birder?
How did I get here? To this place right now? Am I officially a birder? If you would have asked me 2 years ago what I would be doing now, I would’ve thought the idea of becoming a birder and wildlife photographer was completely unrealistic and unreasonable. I am so glad that I chose to push myself. And I do have to choose it. Every time an opportunity comes up, I have the option to say no, to say next time, to say maybe it’s not the right thing right now. And sometimes I do say that, but more often than not, I say yes. I say yes to the adventure, and I never regret it. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be what I expected it to be, it is always beautiful and a learning experience in its own way.
What is birding? Birding is taking the time to enjoy the birds in our world, whether through observation, study, meditation, art, etc. Birding is pure, transcendental, and inspiring. Obviously, birding can be taken too far and people can become hazards and disrupt environments, social interactions, and even population health. But as long as you are aware enough of these possible negatives and work to not be a burden in your birding, it is a beautiful, wonderful, and spiritual experience, and you can have a positive impact instead of a negative one.
Even if you don’t care to actively “bird”, it is important to learn about your local birds because of the impact you can have on birds with seemingly unrelated daily decisions. For example, putting out rat poison leads to poisoning owls because of the food chain, cutting off the dead palm fronds could be cutting down a barn owl’s home, or even singing back to birds can disrupt their social interactions and lead to breeding disruptions. Political decisions, policies, environmental choices, everyday debates all have a huge impact on the future of birds, saving species, and preventing extinction. Everyones’ decisions matter when it comes to birds.
The Morro Bay Bird Festival opened up my eyes to so many new and beautiful experiences in birding, and I am so thankful to have been able to be a part of it. I loved the community. I loved the tours. This was my first bird festival, and I couldn’t get enough. I was going to events from 7am till 10pm - trying to make the most out of the experience - and each event gave me energy for the next one. What will we see this time? What will I learn this time? Who will I meet today?
One of the biggest things that I learned through experience at this festival was that birding creates such a strong community of people that care about creating a symbiotic relationship with these beautiful creatures. People coming together just to enjoy birds, chat, learn more, and support them. I had never been around this many people who care about birds, want to talk about them nonstop, and are fascinated with all things birds. I felt understood in a way that I never had before.
Sometimes, I feel alone. When I see the horrible environments that birds have to live in, I think, “does anyone care?” But people do care, there are people out there fighting and advocating for these guys, and it was so inspiring to be around them for a week.
What did I learn about birds? Birds are resilient. Birds are smart. And Birds are way cooler, way more complex, and way more sensitive than people think.
Cheers to the Birds of Morro Bay!
Thank you for reminding me of the good in the world and letting me be a witness to your beautiful life.
Photos taken by Laura Czaplicki on a SONY A7RIV in Morro Bay, California. January 2024.