It feels weird to be coming back to blogging in 2021. It seems analagous to buying a fax machine, or getting really into Furbys. I'm back because I believe that (at least for me) there is a lot of value in long-form writing. In general the internet has trended towards shorter-form content. This seems to be great for keeping people engaged. If you don't like what you're seeing, you're never more than a couple sentences/seconds away from a new tweet/TikTok. Blogging flexes a different kind of muscle, and its a muscle that I don't want to atrophy. I'm hoping that this blog will serve as a commitment device, and allow me a space to write where I don't feel the need to produce something that is impressive, or a "finished product". Rather I can just practice using my literary voice and organizing my thoughts.

Birding 

I've gotten very into birding recently. Specifically, I've found that I enjoy the documentation element of birding. I've invested in a high-quality camera, and have taken up a goal to get the best picture I can of every type of bird that lives in Washington. I'm having a lot of fun going out and hunting for the birds that I have yet to encounter, and even for the ones that I see frequently, I'm enjoying trying to get the best picture that I can of each type. My favorite shots to date are included below:

The first thing I noticed when I started birding is how oblivious I had been to the presence of birds around me. I went on walks frequently before taking up this hobby, but don't remember ever really noticing their presence. Now as soon as I step outside I appreciate the variety of bird songs that I hear, and the prevalence of this form of wildlife, even in a highly populated area. 

Ever since I was young I wanted to be a wildlife photographer, but, depending on your location, that can be tricky hobby to get into. You can't just walk out of your door and expect to find beavers, bears, foxes, etc. Birds, however, provide an unparalleled opportunity to engage with nature. No matter where you live (almost) you are surrounded by numerous types of birds. As a species, humans are not particularly good at integrating with the nature around us. We tend to overwhelm and dominate, excluding the wild from our populated areas. By a lucky accident, this tendency has not applied for many bird species. Some level of coexistence has been achieved. For now, birding provides the most accessible opportunity to engage with and appreciate the beauty of Earth's wildlife.