In response to the widespread web outages today,
we encourage everyone to get outside and look at some birds.
—National Audubon Society, 10/20/25
Why’re all those two-leggeds staring up at us?
Have they lost their minds? Or have they lost
the little boxes they’re forever clutching
and looking into?
We’re certainly no more interesting today
than we were yesterday. Same old us
standing on the same old wire.
Singing to you from the tree
in the back yard. Doin’ what we do.
But look at ’em looking. Some with
big eye extensions held to their faces
bringing us in closer. Funny two-leggeds
with their clodhoppin’ feet.
You know what we’re gonna do?
Perch here and look right back.
As we do every day, even if tomorrow
you go back to the little boxes,
whether or not you venture outside,
think to look up and hear us singing
for you.
Güd wrtr 
Oh my, so dear! I have the Merlin Bird ID app, and when I walk Jazz just before noon, I’m always having the app listen for birds. It’s distressing–we clearly have fewer birds than in past years. Oh, what have we done….
Indeed… what we have done? I have fewer birds in my yard now, too, and like you, I find it distressing in the extreme.
These times are so distressing, and other than showing up for demonstrations, apparently all I can do is make poems. And vote.