I and the Bird #99

Migration. Isn’t that what it’s all about? We’re all, by the standard definition of the word, migrating, moving from place to place, hither and yon. Atoms migrate within molecules. Teeth migrate within mouths (though we’d rather they didn’t). But of most importance, particularly to those of us attuned to the rhythms of the natural world, are those glorious migrations of huge numbers of living creatures across the globe. And as impressive as marathon movements of humpback whales and European eels are, the migrations that really capture our collective attention are those of birds. We’re in the midst of an enormous one right now. Those of us north of the Equator are watching our boreal breeders withdraw to warmer climes while the bottom half of the world is just welcoming its austral avifauna.

Migrations speak to us, not just as observers of nature but as integral parts of it. The world moves and, deep inside, we long to move with it.

OK, you got me. I wrote these words to introduce a different edition of I and the Bird back in October 2006 . But now it’s spring and migration is moving me as I’m sure it moves you. Plus, our host now as then is dynamic Daniel Rhoads of Migrations. It’s exciting to realize that Dan’s last edition is separated not only by two and a half years but by thousands of miles, since these days he’s blogging out of Cyprus! What matters most, however, hasn’t changed. Enjoy Dan’s passionate paean to peregrination in I and the Bird #99.

Can you believe I and the Bird is about to crest the century mark? To celebrate the 100th edition of the world’s greatest bird blogging carnival, natty Nathan Swick will be hosting IATB #100 at the Nature Blog Network blog. Help us make this the biggest and best edition ever. Send your links and summaries to me or Nate (naswick AT gmail DOT com) by May 12 for the May 14 edition.