I’m normally not one to wax sentimental. I do have those feelings of course but I don’t often express them. Not nearly as often as I should. The Christmas season gives me an excuse…
Friends To The Core
I’ve now been blogging for 3 years and 4 months (whoa, I had no idea it had been that long until I just now looked it up!). In that time I’ve published 671 posts (I started out slowly) that have had many thousands of views and comments. The majority of those comments have been made by you – my regular (and loyal) readers. Lately I’ve been pondering about how well it seems that I know many of you. In many cases I’ve become familiar with and learned to appreciate your devotion to birds and the natural world generally, your generosity in sharing your often extraordinary knowledge and experiences, your enthusiastic support of nature photography and natural history and even your varied senses of humor (which I enjoy immensely). Heck, I (we) even know some of your foibles and idiosyncrasies, as you know some of mine. That sounds like “friends” to me.
At the very top of the list of things I appreciate is your humaneness and decency – not only for critters but toward all of us, too. When I first started blogging one of my great fears was having to deal with all of the insensitivity (that’s a kind word) that is so rampant in the blogosphere. I’ve had virtually none that and I’m so very grateful! It’s almost unheard of for me to have to delete or “not approve” a comment. To be sure, folks have occasionally disagreed on various topics but the discussion has always been civil and considerate – though sometimes passionate, all as it should be when you have a point of view. It can be done and you have proven it so.
To some degree I can even see “relationships” developing between various commenters and that’s a joy for me.
friend: A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts
I feel like I do know many of you quite well and the like and trust part has certainly been earned. The only thing that feels a little strange is not knowing what my friends look like but I can live with that. I guess it’s not all that uncommon in this internet age.
So, as I do for all my friends, I’d like to most sincerely wish each of you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of Holidays! I hope you’re all snuggled in warmly with family and loved ones for the duration or doing whatever else might be your tradition. And that you remain safe while you do it.
As for Mia and I, it’s a clear morning and there’ll be good light so we’ll likely be out with the birds when the sun comes up (our favorite holiday tradition – especially since we’ll have the whole place to ourselves). Then we’ll have a celebratory meal later in the day (yes, I’m cooking a dead bird and I always feel just a little bit guilty about that…).
Ron
I enjoy your blog and pictures immensely. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Lovely, so well said Ron…!
And to you, much appreciation for taking the time that you do to think about, write and maintain Feathered Photography. It is one of the most beautifully personal, informing and down-to-earth blogs on a subject that is dear to all of us. Looking forward to more great work in 2014…
Susan aka Blue
Santa Cruz, CA
Thank you, Ron … I am a HUGE fan of yours and of Mia’s … both of you are a source of great joy and amusement and awe to me. And both of you are such an inspiration!!! Wishing you and Mia the finest of New Year celebrations … be it tucked up comfy beside a roaring fire with a hot mulled wine in hand or out celebrating with dear family and friends … enjoy!!! And may 2014 bring you both all good things!!!
Blessings,
Lois
OK ! Bill Dove…I’m on to you!!! You’re in cahoots with this Evil iPad…and the two of you are conspiring to push me over the edge! The link you provided won’t open….and I’m slowly shriveling up with curiosity!The edge is near!!!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday full of beautiful photos and interesting stories to share. I appreciate your dedication and love for the animals and the chance to let us experience them with you! Thank you and here’s hoping 2014 is even better for you!
PS: and thank goodness for Burrowing owls, wart hogs and kestrels that make startled hawks jump straight up in the air!
Our insurance agent, Brian, has been blind since he was 21. He has ridden bicycles, jogged daily with a doctor friend, flown an airplane, driven a car…in a field, with his wife, Beth, telling him when to turn His uptight mother-in-law, sitting on a porch watching, voiced her disapproval by saying, “he shouldn’t be driving! He doesn’t have a license”. Brian has never seen Beth )my childhood friend), a beautiful strawberry blond, his two children, his amazing guide dogs, any of his friends, tragically including me, an 81 year old version of Marilyn Monroe. He is also the inventor of what I call “dirty Braille”, what I practice on him at parties and when I sneak up behind him on the street and squeeze his butt. I first met Brian at his wedding reception when I noticed that his guide dog Fax, was lapping up Brian’s champagne. My point? You don’t to see or hear the sound I’d someone’s voice to be friends. I consider you and Mia my friends. I also feel a bond between myself, you and Mia, and fellow Feathered Photography blog followers. I’ve found them to be intelligent, open, informative, funny, caring and quite wonderful. Although I’ve never seen many of their faces, or heard their voices, I’ve “seen” them and “heard” them… and feel a special bond with them. I consider them as friends, and I thank you for that. It has enriched my life.
Well said, “Marilyn”! I feel the same way.
Me too. Me too.
Patty:
Thanks for taking the time to compose your reply, giving Ron’s followers a glimpse into this special friendship, and pointing out that written communication (lacking direct visual and acoustic interactions) can be the basis of special friendships. I thought your reply was as special as the images Ron shares with us and showed it to my wife. Her response was: “What a great reply.”
Thank you, Dave…I really appreciate your kind words, which are exactly opposite to those of another…one whose dedication to making sure I know what a low life I am is always disheartening and quite convincing.
Patty, if you are the definition of ‘low life’ then the world needs more of them, lots more… I can’t imagine that anyone would see you that way; I certainly don’t. I’m glad to have you as a [cyber] friend, and I’ll bet that a lot of others feel the same way. Among other things, I appreciate your ability to make me laugh, which you do frequently.
Thank you, Susan…yes, I definitely do consider you a friend. My major flaws seem to be that I don’t feel that wealth should give you the right to do anything you want to the environment, especially land you “own”, that I don’t understand how it can be OK for some people to have far more than they can ever need( without even working for it) while some who’ve worked hard all their lives can barely get by no matter how hard they try, that it’s OK to shoot a horse if you don’t want it anymore, and to drown puppies if they aren’t “perfect” (I save mice), that I was a teacher (Special Ed,) and even worse, I really loved the kids I worked with. I don’t read the New York Times (wastes too much time and is too expensive), I have friends that collect our garbage, fix our car, sell us fish, etc. but don’t care to “cultivate” friendships with the “important” people who live in the area…and the list goes on. I’m guilty of them all. He is estranged from EVERY member of his own family (his mother disinherited him), verbally abusive to me and our daughter, was insulting and mocking to his own father, a country doctor, who died Christmas Day, and loves the bottle much to much. Unfortunately for me, I am one of his favorite targets. Most of the time I “consider the source”, but sometimes it gets to me, especially since he fawns over my husband. Sorry to go on like this,but your support meant so much.
Patty, we are the same in so many ways. My husband has an acronym for people like the one you mention: GSB (greedy, selfish b*****d). 🙂 Obviously a lot of these people are clueless about how hard some people work – my favorite example is in Bangkok, where a person can work three jobs and still not be able to afford to rent an apartment. Long story short, I suspected that you are the way you are, and that’s why I like you. It is very important to me also, to have good, supportive friends. Happy New Year, and may you be permanently out of range of target shooters!
Thanks, again Susan…I’m so very, very grateful to Ron and Mia for so many things…you’re one of them. I love your husband’s GSB “title”…it seems based on a sense of entitlement…my “friend” comes from a very wealthy family, on his mother’s side. I’m sorry to have dumped this BS on others…I was feeling unusually vulnerable, but am over it..so .”case closed” and on to a good, happy, healthy New Year to all, wherever you are. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, interests, facts and information. It’s been a great trip! Here’s to 2014…to lots of kestrels, healthy eagles, warm toes and noses for Ron and Mia, many more amazing sightings and photos, and a bumper crop of hapless voles (may the end be quick)….
You are welcome, Patty, and I wish you and yours a wonderful year in 2014.
I missed this somehow, Patty – until Dave’s comment. Shouldn’t have. You’ve put it so very well I think – the way many of us feel about the friends we have here that we’ve never seen. Thank you for such a heart-felt comment. Loved “dirty braille” and “an 81 year old version of MM”. You’re the greatest!
I haven’t been feeling much like the “best”, Your reply means a lot. Thank you…
Ron–After all the incredibly beautiful photos you’ve shared with us, and all the interesting insights into facts and behaviors, I am NOT going to share a photograph of myself with you and my fellow feathered bloggers…therefore, I will forever remain an 81year old Marilyn Monroe look-a-like to you(at least until Feb. 2015, when I will become an 82 year old version of MM)
Ok, Patty – then I’ll leave it to my imagination. Who knows where that’ll go…
I enjoyed the exchange, Patty and Susan. Glad you had it.
Thank you for making it possible,,,just another great spin off from your magical blog! You’re “the pebble in the pool” when it comes to influencing lives in positive way…I envy you and thank you for that! 🙂 …..(as you can see, I’m learning how to make silly faces on this evil computer! Real teenager stuff.) Not only am I an 81 year old version on MM, but the oldest teenager you’ll ever bump into!
And that is exactly why you are so much fun and still look like MM… You are young at heart, one of the most important life secrets we can learn. 🙂
🙂
May you and Mia have many blessings of good friends, good sightings and good , happy times in the New Year.
All of us, young and old, short and tall, love your blog! Feliz Navidad, Fröhliches Weinachten, Buon Natale, Salute and zum wohl! And Happy New Year. Thanks to you and Mia for such amazing dedication (I don’t get out of bed that early, and I dislike cold!!) and for bringing us all closer to these amazing creatures!!
I too am new to your blog and appreciate it for so many reasons – the beautiful photos and the feelings they evoke, your insight into birds and photogrpahy, your humanness and the breath of fresh air that comes with each day’s entry. Thanks for sharing and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. At the end of my Christmas day it is a pleasure to share in this blog community.
Wow. Wow!!! I’m amazed at all the comments and the very, very nice sentiments expressed by everyone. I read them all once as soon as we arrived home from shooting and will do so again. Thank you, all!
We ended up going all the way up to Bear River (and further) this morning and spent most of the day in that area. It was a glorious day – sunny, cold, crisp clear air, great company and even a few birds. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas Day as much as Mia and I did.
Thank you once again.
Ron
Thank you, Ron, for brightening my days. I always look forward to your posts. You just never know what might be coming next! Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas, Ron. Be grateful that all your readers don’t respond to every posting. You’d spend so much time reading OUR notes that you’d have no time to write YOUR notes. We appreciate what you do for the birds and for those of us who love them.
Sending you and Mia my warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas!
I’m new to your list and am not particularly knowledgeable about birds, but find your images sometimes beautiful, sometimes dramatic, sometimes poignant,sometimes awe-inspiring. All this is clearly a labor of love for you and this old world needs all the love it can get. Thanks and Merry Christmas.
You are my friend Ron. Doesn’t matter how it happened, you are my friend. Sakura has grown in all her beautiful red tail feathers, and when she flew to me yesterday, I thought….”Ron would really get a kick out of this.” 🙂
My wish for next year is that you see your Parire Falcon again. 🙂
Tim
As a new follower of your awesome photographs and informative texts, I look forward to your 2014 posts. Happiest of holidays to you and yours.
Thank you so much for all the beautiful and informative posts. They are a wonderful part of our days. My husband will often say to me…”Did you see Ron Dudley’s post today?” and we regularly have discussions about them. You’ve also had a huge influence on how we see and photograph birds. We were out this morning bird watching along the Sacramento river delta and you, your photos, and your comments were mentioned several times. You are a much loved part of our lives. Merry Christmas, Ron. You are in our thoughts daily.
Well said, Ron – and all who have responded. The internet has really been an interesting phenomenon, as it expands worlds (and contracts them at the same time, given the inside time we all spend at our computers!)… May the beauty of nature, the return of the sun, and the joy, light and love of the season enfold all of us throughout the coming year – with cheers to friends whom we’ve never met!
Merry Christmas!
A very beautiful post with an amazing photo. Merry Christmas to you too.
The warmth and the wonder of the blogosphere continually amaze me. As does the knowledge and the beauty I get from it. And you. And Mia. You feed my eyes, my mind and provide balm for my soul.
I hope your day, week, year is bird filled and wonderful.
And yes, of course I love the owl. Ooh and ahh.
Ron, Mia:
Merry Christmas. I hope your morning outing was productive. Thanks for the time and energy you devote to maintaining your wonderful blogs. I don’t comment as often as I should, given how much knowledge, inspiration and enjoyment I receive from viewing your images and comments.
Looking forward to many more years of following your blogs.
Good morning Ron and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. For the last 3 years, we too have spent Christmas day at Farmington Bay. It is so amazingly quiet and serene with little or no disturbance. Keep posting you’d beautiful pictures and awesome bird knowledge. I am honored to be considered a friend in this blog environment. Hope to cross paths with you in 2014 and say hi in person.
Merry Christmas, Ron. So honored to know you and have the pleasure of viewing your matchless work and learning all kinds of things, from behavior to ecology to ethics. hope to meet you and Mia in person someday. Warmest wishes for the new year!
Ron and Mia,
I could easily envision picking y’all up before sunrise, taking you to my favorite marsh, relishing in showing you the “secret” places where Limpkins raise their chicks and Snail Kites pluck their breakfast from the reeds. I don’t do that for just anybody – only “friends”.
Merry Christmas!
Oh, Ron, I’m honored to have you as a friend, and would be delighted if we can ever be more than webbish friends. Here, the sun is shining brightly in the clear turquoise sky. It has warmed the house to toasty through big southern windows. This has set off a contagious flurry of bathing among all the indoor birds. They are now all dripping and the place smells like wet feathers. The days are infinitesimally longer. They say Christ is born, bringing renewed hope that spring will come with more births once again.
Thank you so much for all you do and your generosity to share. My days are brighter because of you, friend.
Mikal
Thank you, Ron. Merry Christmas to you and Mia. Hoping y’all have a great 2014.
The image is delightful, and you Master photographer, have a Merry Christmas!!!!
Good Morning Ron,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!
You bring so much pleasure into your “friends ” lives every day. I feel like it is Christmas every morning when I open the present you have sent. Thank you so much for enriching our lives.
You friend Len
Ron and fellow comment creators I hope this link works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e0PVaqV7LxM
Bill
It worked just fine, Bill and I enjoyed the clip very much. Toward the end I was laughing out loud. I’d never seen it before.
Love that show. Good one Bill.
I’ve heard that its Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons’ favorite episode. 🙂
Tim
Hi Ron,
For a guy who says he doesn’t often express “those sentiments”, you have done so in a most eloquent (and heartwarming) way. For me, this season is all about sharing with friends and family, and your words are very much in that spirit. Thank you, and the very warmest of greetings from me and my family to you and Mia. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Dick
Thank you for a beautiful post. I love the owl picture attached. Merry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year to you and Mia! The hubby and I are also on our way out to enjoy the birds.
Ron, I thank you for this post. Reading your posts, seeing the beautiful photography, learning so much, and interacting with you and your readers has become a special part of my day. I will be out of the country for the first 4 months of 2014, and the thing I will miss most, along with time at Hueco Tanks, is your blog. (Internet will be available, but very expensive.) Connecting with nature, and especially birds, is very restorative, filling those little empty nooks and crannies inside. I wish you and Mia the happiest of holidays and a wonderful year in 2014. Susan
Merry Xmas to you & Mia Ron. I also am glad I found your blog. You can never have too many friends & seeing it come into my email everyday is like having another one. I have learned some things, shared, laughed & been amazed. That is friendship. I am in Oregon with family right now & am trying watch birds when I can amid all the visiting. LOL When I get back to Montana I will be busy getting ready for our annual Xmas Bird Count we have scheduled on the 4th of Jan. Really looking forward to that! Hope you have a wonderful day & new year. Peace.
Thank you, Ron (It still feels strange to not call you Mr. Dudley). Have a wonderful Christmas and know that we all appreciate the daily gifts you deliver.
I know what you mean, Budd. I can’t imagine ever calling Mrs. Driesen, my old firebrand English teacher, “Helen (she’d have rearranged some of my fine facial features if I had). But “Ron” is what I want you to call me – you’ll get used to it. Many of my other students have…
I totally agree with everything everyone already said. I so look forward to your posts each day. I learn so much from you about the birds, about photography, about life and nature. Love the owls and the way they show affection toward each other. Perfect picture for a perfect Christmas gift from you and Mia. Have a wonderful holiday.
Thanks-Ron
I enjoy your pictures every day !!
You have brightened my life and expanded my knowledge Ron! Finding your blog is one of the highlights of my internet experience. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to your posts! May you have the Merriest Christmas and Happy Holidays! May your sharing and caring continue! May you have a healthy, happy New Year filled with love!
Charlotte
Love your blog and the fabulous pic attached. Merry Christmas to you and Mia filled with much love and blessings and our beautiful birds.
Hi Ron – I’m deeply moved by your outreach (to us readers of your blogpost) as a friend. Through sharing your wisdom and knowledge, you help me approach the world with heightened sensitivity. How wonderful when a blogpost enhances civility, consciousness and clarity! My warmest wishes to you and Mia and to all your readers for a healthy, happy year.
Hi Ron and Mia,
I have already been up to our small wooded garden today and fed the birds. It’s not really very cold here (Cornwall) although we’ve just had a lot of stormy winds very recently with one small dead tree being blown down. There is one feeder and a couple of spots where I put some feed out for the blackbirds, dunnocks and robins (we have two). Once their food is out, I will typically sit on a garden chair (drinking tea) and watch about twenty or thirty birds tuck in and emerge from various quarters of the garden. The blue tits dart about with the great tits, chaffinches and sparrows – and the jays don’t come in until I’ve left, along with a pair of collared doves, a magpie and a few rooks. We have a huge rookery right at the back, with around 300 or so living there.
Through viewing your blog and reading the appreciation of your photos of those birds that you come across (and record so well), I agree with you that it does indeed add up to a good friendship amongst ourselves.
Cheers to friendship!
Thanks Ron. I have learned so much and laughed so much because of your blog. And your “siblings” photo is framed and on my wall to give me pleasure every day. I hope that every day in the end of 13 and throughout 14 beings more bird photos and knowledge that you generously share with all of us.
Hi Ron- Really enjoy your blog! Wishing you and Mia a very Merry Christmas from Colorado. My wife and I will also be out enjoying the birds this morning.
Thank you Ron and a Merry Christmas to you and Mia !!
What a treat to receive this morning! Wishing you a Merry Christmas as well. Thanks for the lovely post.