Grackles are one of my favorite birds. They are fascinating to look at. The eyes-buried amount of those dark shiny colors is incredible. When they look at you, you feel there is a message to follow. Yesterday during the never-ending snow that never accumulated, the barn feeder was crazy all day. Regular visitors, plus Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Robins, and for the first time, I have seen the Common Grackle. The feeder is just to the left of me, and it is in my line of the site if I look to the left. Other than that, I can’t really see it in my peripheral, but yesterday I could feel I was being watched, I looked left, and the yellow eyes were staring right at me. The camera is always near, so I got some shots. Already having a dailypic for yesterday, I figured I’d make the Grackle today’s.
As I said, I associate the Grackel with messages, and it is a harbinger. I had that thought already when I decided to add it to the dailypic. What I had not considered was the dailypic number. Today is day 4900. A photo a day shared for 4900 days. I have said many times I never really know when this streak would end. I would not say I had been lying when I said that, BUT… I did have a few dates in mind when it could. Two of them are this year. One date that makes sense to me would be October 1, 2023, my 50th Birthday, the annual re-upping of my commitment to this project. The more likely day is even sooner. June 10th, 2023 – Day 5000. That seems like a significant number to stop at.
I am not looking for anyone to tell me to keep going or anything like that. I know this reaches people, and I love hearing from you all. I also am not confirming I am stopping, just that I have a date coming up in 100 days that I have often thought would be a great bookend. I also thought it would never get here. I have some thinking to do over the next 100 days. I am sure it would have occurred to me either way, but the Grackle might have told me the countdown is here. We will see. I can say 10,000 is a much more impressive number, so there is that.
tr/trp
Your photos have brought me great joy on a daily basis from spectacular sunsets and whimsical toys… from rock bands, artists and birds to your beautiful family and those others you connect with through your profession, and Tim, even those creepy yet captivating spiders! I am grateful for the many years of joy you have provided through your photography, but understand there are seasons for everything and that all seasons eventually come to pass. I will continue to enjoy this season for however long it lasts and am grateful for the time, energy and commitment you have devoted to this ambitious project! Perhaps, instead of a daily photo at the fiftieth milestone, a weekly one… and at the sixtieth a monthly one… just sayin’! Trust your gut and best of luck with your decision, which will be the correct one for you… you’ve totally nailed the decision making thing on this wonderful and interesting journey of yours. It’s been amazing to watch. My cameras are still yours if you ever find yourself near Cornish Maine!
It a beautiful way to start the day with your phenomenal shots.
The decision is yours of course.
I will always be a Big fan.
Wow!!!
PS keep sharing
You make these …. birds beautiful!!
Amazing photos. You make these birds …. beautiful!!