The Best Way to Awaken in the Morning

Without birdsong the universe would collapse.

Last night was the first night this year that I left the windows wide open all night long. I have left them cracked open a few times recently as the weather has been warming but not more than a crack. That is one thing I dislike about winter; is that I can’t leave my windows open.

But Spring is abruptly upon us here on the Great Plains of Turtle Island. It has finally gotten warm enough to leave my windows open all night and, for me, that is a truly wonderful thing.

Yes, it was a bit nippy in my bedroom early this morning but I like that. As I slowly began to awaken I could feel the cool air on my face. Before I ever opened my eyes the first thing I became consciously aware of was the thundering symphony of birdsong coming from the trees outside my bedroom window. I kept my eyes closed and allowed the bird music to slowly pull me out of the sleep state into the awake state. To me, this is the very ultimate way to awaken in the morning.

Birds are notoriously early risers. At no time of day is the birdsong louder than in the predawn hours. That is the time of day birds rule.

I am neither a birder nor a birdwatcher. I am a bird freak. (There is a difference.) I am also a lot like a bird in that my very…