Dreaming of Birds While Sheltered-in-Place

By Paloma MacKenzie

 

Two Mondays ago, I showed up to work expecting the usual commotion that comes with tasks piling up over the weekend. But early in the afternoon, a colleague alerted me that six Bay Area counties were ordering denizens to shelter-in-place. I can’t say I was shocked. I’d already spent the last couple of weeks following the news closely on the developments of Covid-19 infection in the state. Later that afternoon, the CFO let everyone know that we were shutting down for the foreseeable future.

My husband and I were planning to go on vacation for the first time since we got married last year at the end of the week. Months back, I planned for us to go to Palm Springs to see the place where I grew up, where I hadn’t been in over 8 years. Since my husband started doing school remotely almost two weeks before, he had been adamant that we go despite the escalating situation.

Although I was looking forward to getting some designated “us” time, the shelter-in-place order gave me an out. My anxiety eased for a moment, but I wish I could have shown my husband my hometown. He was less concerned about traveling while coronavirus cases ballooned because we were going to be spending time outdoors anyway. 

At the top of our agenda was visiting the American Flamingo population at the Desert Springs Marriot—a fixture in the Coachella Valley with an opulent indoor tropical plant and bird selection and a manmade lagoon complete with Flamingos. My mom worked there as a waitress when I was little, so some of my most vivid childhood memories are of those Flamingos. 

I also would have loved to have spotted some roadrunners.

 

 

 

My first impression of the species was through Wile E Coyote on Looney Tunes. I soon realized they didn’t have such long necks and were somewhat stocky (in comparison, mostly), yet sleek, like little dinosaurs with frilled crowns. And I’ll never forget when I found a hummingbird nest in my backyard and reveled at the miniature eggs.

Instead, life resumes indoors. Being glued to social media more than usual this last week, I noticed that many people I know are including outdoor activity as part of their self-isolation agenda. The shelter-in-place order requires that all non-essential businesses close, such as gyms, bars, theaters, and that restaurants only stay open for takeout and delivery. The briefing says any “non-essential” activity must be avoided. With that, I’ve come across a lot of sources saying outdoor exercise while maintaining social distancing is fine.

But I have mixed feelings about going out.

Walking, running, and biking are allowed if each quarantine group maintains six-feet distance from each other. I could easily maintain distance on a bike, but part of me is unsure about how safe it will be the longer I’m out and the further I go. This virus is very contagious, not just person-to-person, but can also live on surfaces for long periods of time. Can I be sure that I won’t touch anything? I could go for the occasional walk, but I don’t have the same peace of mind knowing what is going on. 

Even if I were better equipped with disposable gloves and proper face masks, I’m not sure that I would be more apt to take these opportunities. My husband and I adopted a cat recently, whom we’re raising indoors because we’re aware of the dangers posed to cats as well as bird populations when they’re outside. Since I stopped work, I’ve been spending more time with her watching the birds from our windows that look out on to the neighbor’s bird feeders.

We often see bright red House Finches, California Towhees, and Dark-eyed Juncos. I wonder what it must feel like for the birds to see the streets so bare. They have silence different from anything they’ve experienced in their lifetimes because of the way we have changed our lives. Certainly, they’ll be able to hear each other’s spring songs with new clarity. 

In the meantime, I’m comfortable staying at home doing my due diligence to flatten the curve. I have BBC’s The Life of Birds and Earth Flight available to watch when I feel like escaping to a different place and time. If I want to see some real birds, I can do a lap around my neighborhood and see a Mourning Dove, maybe, but most of all, hear some beautiful clear bird songs in the backdrop of a springtime palette of flowers in the neighbors’ yards. I can only hope that all this time indoors reminds everyone of what’s important for humanity and how that affects our surroundings.

Someday when we marvel at the birds again, we will feel how precious they are to us.

 

 

Paloma MacKenzie is a longtime East Bay resident who takes great pleasure in observing wildlife in unlikely places. Being named for the dove, she has always felt an affinity for birds in particular – one of her favorite childhood activities was visiting the flamingoes at the Palm Desert Marriott. When she’s not hiking with hawks in the Oakland Hills or watching pigeons feast on the streets of Berkeley, she enjoys electronic music and hunting down the best donuts in town.

If you would like to learn more about your favorite birds at home, the Berkeley Public Library has increased their lending limits for their online resources. Visit berkeleypubliclibrary.org for more information.

 

We want to feature your stories about birding during this crisis. Do you have a shelter-in-place birding story you’d like to share with us? Contact GGBA’s Communications Manager, Melissa, at mramos@goldengatebirdalliance.org with 800-1200 word testimonials. Wishing you joy and peace through birding.