Master non-strivers

I read recently that birdwatching was threatening to become the breakout activity of 2026 – that in the last five years it has been taken up in record numbers by both young and old birders.

As someone who has found themselves spending a lot of time watching birds lately I’ve been wondering what is happening? And why birds, of all things, have got so many of us watching?

Writer Eckhart Tolle says humans have always felt a fascination for flowers, precious stones and birds – he thinks all three are transformative, that we can sense they’re somehow more than physical – that, however slight, they’re an inner-opening into the realm of spirit we all seek.

Like many new birders I begin by making a list of the birds I see, but once I know a few of their names I start making a list of the things they do – everyday miracles I call them…

As it flies low over the creek a Red Wattlebird dips its body in the water to wash itself

An Eastern Spinebill in flight pulls on its handbrake stopping almost at my nose – I see the pink inside its mouth

A family of Currawongs work together to flush a ringtail possum out of a tree

A pair of tiny Willy Wagtails chase a Currawong away from their nest, telling it off again and again – chit-chit-chit-chit!!

Seven Splendid Wrens dance so unconsciously on the pathway I cry

Blackbirds have a surprisingly beautiful song 

A Red Wattlebird chases off four Noisy Mynahs harassing a Cormorant too wet from fishing to fly away – TWICE!!

Early morning on the creek bank, ducklings below my feet and over my shoulder up on a branch a pair of tawny frogmouths 

A whitefaced heron oblivious to me returns again and again along the path to collect twigs for its nest 

A family of huge carp feeding above the rapids bump into a passing duck & her ducklings – no one is eaten

Currawongs are 100% themselves

Of all the wonderful things I see birds do it’s this last observation that keeps coming back to me. 

Like all birds Currawongs are masters of non-striving; they don’t care what other birds think of them, what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow.  They’re not worried about improving their look, their fitness or their performance at work.

When you’re a Currawong you don’t need to “put in the time” to become a better Currawong.

You are 100% yourself.

Now I don’t know if it’s this deep acceptance and leadership that’s getting so many people out birding but it really feels like good advice going into 2026.

Anyway, welcome back and have a great week

Chris

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