Mountain Bluebirds hang out near the patio – they tap dance on the rain gutter and swoon down into the pinyon tree. I look up Mountain Bluebird in Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Birds: Western Region (Donald & Lilian Stokes, 1996). I’ve never seen the bluebirds this close to my home. Whenever I see them out on the trail, they are shy, and I’ve not been able to photograph them. Even if I could photograph the little lovelies, the camera cannot capture what happens to my heart when I catch sight of them.
Stokes describes the females as uniformly grayish-brown, with sky-blue wings and tail. I feel let-down as I read the description, as I was certain it would describe the beauties a bit more metaphysically …the indefinable blue connects one to a deeper, spiritual plane aiding the viewer in contemplative endeavors… or something along those lines.
Like many female birds, the female Mountain Bluebird is not as ‘showy’ as the male – the males are solid sky-blue with a bit lighter blue on the lower half. When I see male Mountain Bluebirds out on the trail, my heart catapults into some other sphere. But for today, the light blue wings of the females capture my attention and captivate my heart.
As I watch one of these female gems, she brings a gift of peace, joy, and a calm. In the stillness, I listen for her message, as I know she has one, because nature always, always has one. And soon enough, she tells me: It is not necessary to be showy like the Male Mountain bluebird – it’s okay to be as you are. You don’t need to be something different – You are enough.
You are whole
You are complete
You are peace
You are here
You are now