At King’s High School, we are fortunate to have plenty of green space, with a beautiful central quad around which our school is built. Within our quad, frequent a pair of magpies. Whenever I see the first magpie, the superstitious salute that I trained myself in as a child happens (“one for sorrow,” so salute the magpie and all will be well). Then I see the second black and white winged companion make up the pair and I feel relief (“two for joy”! Big relief.)
Childhood superstitions aside, the pair of magpies are joyful to watch. Whilst understood to be rather an aggressive bird, and somewhat of a merciless thief of shiny things, they make a striking sight as they swoop and patrol our school quad. Their black and white plumage against the green grass and blue sky is nature in truly fine form.
Watching birds can be a soothing way to spend your time. We live in country that boasts 405 different breeds of birds with whom we share the air around us. Last weekend, the RSPB held its citizen birdwatch survey encouraging people to count the birds that they see within an hour and submit the results in a national survey. The benefits of such an activity are manifold: when we sit and make time to watch birds in action, we also:
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make time to be still and calm, it is not hugely different from meditation
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listen to the sights and sounds of nature
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focus on a ‘show’ that is not digitalised or part of the fast-pace world of online connectivity
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are entertained for free and with no agenda – watching birds in their natural habitat can be fascinating
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gain perspective – we are part of something greater than just ourselves
So, take a stroll or pull up a chair near a window with a mug of something you enjoy, look outside, and see if you can spot nature in full flight.
