The photo-op directly above is from tonight's (May the fourth) #ClapBecauseWeCare session, where many participants announced:
"May the fourth* be with you, first responders, health care professionals and essential workers. BRAVO! BRAVO!"
*
"May the Fourth be with you," is the catchphrase of Star Wars Day on May 4th, the unofficial holiday celebrating the Star Wars franchise. It is a pun on a famous line from Star Wars, May the Force be with you.
I've NEVER seen any Star Wars film but I do certainly say to our health care professionals and essential workers, May the force be with you as you persevere in the work you are doing during this pandemic.
In any event, the following pictures are also from tonight's tribute.
The latter is of a man who has called out to me during these tributes to let me know how much he loves seeing the
birds in
my rooftop garden. He introduced himself and I advised him to put his email on a sign when he attends subsequent sessions so that I could send him pictures of our tributes and also of the birds who visit me.
Our encounter reminded me that even though birds have continued to visit my garden during this lockdown and I have taken their pictures, I've not posted many images of my avian visitors as I've been distracted by sheltering in place with the anxiety it produces.
In fact, I've been so preoccupied with COVID-19 Coverage that it slipped my mind that May the Fourth, is
Bird Day, a very important day to me, evidenced by the fact I have published a three volume book series,
Words In Our Beak, about the avian community, where the stories are told from the perspective of a female
cardinal named Cam.
As for the holiday of Bird Day, I've discussed it in prior entries here on Blogger including one last year,
where I stated, organizers of this event
"suggest a field trip into a woods to look for and enjoy migrating birds."
I also mentioned this: "Holiday Insights (HI), states this particular bird holiday always occurs on May the Fourth and it is the oldest of the days set aside to recognize birds. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, Bird Day was first observed on May 4, 1894. It was started by Charles Almanzo Babcock, superintendent of schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania. By 1910, Bird Day was widely celebrated, often in conjunction with Arbor Day. Bird Day and Arbor Day events are focused upon conservation training and awareness.
National Bird Day was established by bird activists. It calls upon people to recognize the plight of captive birds. It also draws attention to exploitation of birds in the U.S. pet industry. On this day, organizers suggest we reflect upon the conditions of birds held in captivity.
Note: Our research did not find any documentation that this is a "National" day, which requires an act of congress.
International Migratory Bird Day celebrates the incredible journey that migratory birds take each year. They travel thousands of miles between breeding grounds in North America, and their winter homes in Central and South America. Organizers say this is a day to both support, and to increase awareness of conservation efforts in support of migratory birds. They also suggest a field trip into a woods to look for and enjoy migrating birds."
In many parts of the world, it will not be possible to take a field trip or a walk in the woods to celebrate today's holiday, as many people are being required to shelter in place. If you are one of the persons having to do this, dear reader, I hope the following series of photographs featuring birds who have visited me lately will offer you some fulfillment on 2020's Bird Day.
Before I do so, please allow me to show you a picture my visiting birds biggest fan: Snooze the cat who lives with has been featured in prior blog entries...
...in this picture she is keeping her eye on th birdie in my garden... or should I say birdies?
Mourning dove working on a suntan....
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