Lens-Artists Challenge #414: Looking Back at #44–Harmony
This week Ann-Christine revisits the Lens-Artists Challenge #44: Harmony. She’s given us more freedom to explore harmony beyond the color-harmony concept. Please see her post and photos for her take on the topic.
When I think of harmony, one song always comes to mind: “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” the Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic. Jackie DeShannon carried it into the Top 10 in 1965. Dionne Warwick initially turned it down, reportedly finding it a bit preachy, but she recorded it herself the following year. Sixty years on, the world still seems short on what the song asks for. Rather than dwell on that, I go to nature to see how the birds handle the question of harmony.
About 30 minutes from our house is Murphy Park in Taylor, Texas. It is a small urban park, roughly 120 acres (49 ha), with a man-made lake and a modest island in the middle. Every spring, that island becomes one of Central Texas’s busiest rookeries.
Herons, egrets, and cormorants arrive to nest, and the traffic on the island goes off the charts. The overflow spills into the trees along the shore. For a bird photographer, it is close to paradise: you find a shaded spot, sit down, and shoot away while the birds go about their business.
What strikes me most is how well everyone gets along in such tight quarters. Different species, different sizes, different habits, all packed onto a few acres of reeds and branches, are living in harmony.
On the lawn, a pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and a Great Egret share the same patch of grass without a second glance.
In the reeds, a Little Blue Heron preens beside two Cattle Egrets in full breeding color. Neighbors, not rivals.
Up in a bald cypress by the water, Great Egrets and Neotropic Cormorants nest side by side, sometimes only a branch apart.
It happens at home, too. At one of the bird feeders, a House Finch and a Northern Cardinal take turns, and nobody gets chased off.
I have no solution for why we humans find it so hard to share space. Ecologists would tell me the birds have simply worked out their differences: each species feeds a little differently, so there is enough to go around. Maybe that is the whole lesson. There is room on the island for everyone, as long as no one insists on having it all.
What a show Beth’s bridge challenge generated last week. Great images you all shared! I hope you will join this challenge, too. Please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts so people can find your wonderful challenge entries.
Next week, Anne will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in then to find out more about the challenge. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history. If you don’t want to miss any future challenges, please consider subscribing to the team members’ websites. Here they are:
- Tina of Travels and Trifles.
- Patti of P.A. Moed.
- Ann-Christine of Leya.
- John of Journeys with Johnbo.
- Anne of Slow Shutter Speed.
- Sofia of Photographias.
- Egídio of Through Brazilian Eyes.
- Ritva of Ritva Sillanmäki Photography.
- Beth of Wandering Dawgs.
That is the story behind the shots. For more like this, enjoy these related stories: Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Great Egret, House Finch, Lens-Artists, Little Blue Heron, Murphy Park, Neotropic Cormorant, Northern Cardinal, Parks, Teravista, Texas, Western Cattle Egret, and Wildlife. Until the next shoot, keep chasing the light and the wonders it reveals.
Sources:
- City of Taylor — Murphy Park — https://www.taylortx.gov/243/Murphy-Park
- Texas Master Naturalist, Central Places — Murphy Park, Taylor — https://txmn.org/centralplaces/murphy-park-taylor/
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds — Neotropic Cormorant — https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Neotropic_Cormorant/overview
- Wikipedia — What the World Needs Now Is Love — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_World_Needs_Now_Is_Love
Discover more from Through Brazilian Eyes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
heavenlyraindrops
I’ve never even heard of Cattle Egrets. They’re terrific.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sue. They get their name because they do hang around cattle in some areas.
Vicki
Fantastic bird photography, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback, Vicki.
Steve Schwartzman
In your opening picture, I’d be tempted to crop off the top third and bottom third to create a panorama of the avian island.
Egidio Leitao
I can clearly see that option. Thanks for the comment. I do not need to return to Murphy Park and get new photos, especially now that I have a longer lens.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Such beautiful examples of how the world can be Egídio, birds truly are a shining example of that and it is a treat to see 😊☮️
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the comment, Xenia. I agree with you.
I. J. Khanewala
Lovely, the harmony of the birds. I wish I could hear them
Egidio Leitao
I.J., they are very loud. It’s a cacophony of sounds, but the view is rewarding. Thanks for the comment.
Pepper
Another beautiful post. 😊
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for your kind feedback, Pepper.
carabeinsplash
Beautiful birds!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the comment, Cara.
shoestringdiary
Beautiful post! It’s quite rare to see a frame with 2 species of birds or more. You did that in several shots. If only people can learn to live together like them.
Egidio Leitao
Leo, your observation is perfect. I often notice how territorial some birds can be. Male cardinals are right there on top of the list. Thanks for writing.
photobyjohnbo
Egidio, your comments are as harmonious as the images. You are a master at bird photography, and your response is on target. Why can’t we all just get along???
Egidio Leitao
John, I’m a backyard birder. 🙂 Thanks for your compliments.
norasphotos4u
Beautiful photos!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for the feedback, Nora.
Dawn M. Miller
Wonderful bird images but the “Neighbors on th eLawn” made me snicker out loud.
Egidio Leitao
That’s wonderful about snickering, Dawn. Thanks for writing.
Dawn M. Miller
🙂
Leya
I love your post and its true message to us all, Egidio. You bring us beautiful pictures and lessons to learn – as we were all born into this world and should be grateful for being here. Humans have come too far from their origin and lost sight of who they truly are – a part of Nature like all the other creatures on this planet. We are all here together and together we shall stay. In Harmony.
Egidio Leitao
Ann-Christine, your words are wonderful and uplifting. Humans need to learn to live in harmony. Thanks for your positive words.
Vicki
Ann-Christine, I haven’t been able to comment on your blog for 6 days now. Another WordPress glitch. I thought it would be rectified in 24 hours but not so. Just letting you know via Egidio’s blog.
Egidio Leitao
Vicki, I’m sorry you’re experiencing these WP problems. I doubt that Ann-Christine will read a comment in my blog. She doesn’t get notified of those comments. I’ve noticed that some blogs are now requiring you to log on to WP before you can comment.
Rupali
Lovely choices, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Rupali.
Leanne Cole
Wonderful harmony Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Leanne.
Steve Hyde
Great post Egidio. What a pair of stunning birds to get on your bird feeder.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Steve.
Toonsarah
I love this approach to the harmony theme: ‘There is room on the island for everyone, as long as no one insists on having it all.’
Egidio Leitao
That’s a lesson for humans. Thanks, Sarah.
restlessjo
A lovely lesson from nature, Egidio xx
Egidio Leitao
If only humans could learn. Thanks, Jo. xx
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Egídio, this is a wonderful post, I like how you chose the theme. Neighbors on the Lawn my pick from all these beautiful images. Birds and animals many times live in total harmony.
Egidio Leitao
Ritva, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts here. Much gratitude.
Pamela Zmija Photography
Beautiful images! Incredible variety of birds. We have a Murphy Park in our town, that also often has Egret, Heron and a variety of geese and ducks! Love that harmony in life!
Egidio Leitao
Pam, thanks for commenting. It’s wonderful you have a similar park.
Sofia Alves
Wow, Egídio, what a lovely post. Thank you so much for this harmonious read.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for commenting, Sofia.
margaret21
What a lovely fable. And a true one too! Beautifully told and illustrated.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for commenting, Margaret.
Alison
So harmonious and fantastic photos of those beautiful birds
Egidio Leitao
Ali, thank you for your kind words.
pamperrault21
Lovely, lovely post – concept, photographs and narrative! How much we can learn from birds, hey? pp
Egidio Leitao
Pam, as Terri pointed out, humans can learn a thing or two from other creatures. Thanks for your note.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Amazing images of birds in nature and living in harmony, Egidio. Creatures do it so much better than us humans 🙁 The gorgeous cardinals sharing the feeder is perfect! You gave me a great idea for my Sunday Stills post!
Egidio Leitao
Terri, many thanks for your feedback. I’m glad the post inspired you for your post tomorrow. Thanks.
Anne Sandler
Beautiful birds, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Anne. I’m glad you liked them. It’s a great place to watch them.
Wandering Dawgs
Igidio, I love how you focused on how different species of birds find harmony together and share their space. Your images are fantastic. My favorite is the heron with the cattle egrets. i was thinking of including a photo of different species of birds on the same tree but you beat me to it! Great minds think alike!
Egidio Leitao
Beth, I’m happy to hear you were thinking along the same lines I did. Thank you for your feedback and compliment.