President's Corner
Fresh Eyes and a Fresh Perspective
by John Shenot
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great summer. One of my highlights was a visit from Heidi and Chuck, close friends from Wisconsin. Heidi is an avid novice birder, still learning to ID birds, but exceptionally observant. She was eager to see some Colorado birds that can’t be found in Wisconsin. One day we drove up the Poudre for a day in the mountains. Although the birds that day were few and far between, I was determined to entertain Heidi and I had a backup plan. So, on the way home, we stopped at one of those small resort businesses that keeps hummingbird feeders out front. The feeders were swarming with Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. Heidi stood in their midst, mesmerized, even giddy. "They’re like faeries!" she said. "I’m surrounded by faeries!" I told her to be on the lookout for any that looked a little different, and it was Heidi who spotted a lone Rufous Hummingbird. I was almost as mesmerized as Heidi, and my wife and Chuck enjoyed it too. Later Heidi posted a hummingbird video on Facebook with the caption: "And today I found my happy place."
It’s so easy to become bored with the beauty of the commonplace. Sometimes it takes fresh eyes and a fresh perspective to remind us of all that nature can offer, but this is a gift we all can give. We can open other people’s eyes—neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and especially kids—to the beauty of the commonplace. The joy of this kind of experience is available to each of us, almost every day, right outside our door. In my backyard, on late summer afternoons, I enjoy watching dragonflies buzzing overhead. Swallows and chimney swifts dance on unseen winds. Bees and insects feed in the herb garden. The closer I look, the more interesting it becomes. There probably isn’t a "rare" creature anywhere in sight, but searching for rarity and novelty are only one way to find happiness. Enjoying what’s there is another.
My advice to you is to make a habit of observing and enjoying the commonplace. You don’t have to understand it all, or know the names of everything, or study it like a scientist. And it’s okay to seek out the rare and exotic. But a true appreciation for nature begins with an appreciation for the commonplace. Perhaps most importantly, I urge you to share your passion and enthusiasm with those around you. It’s contagious! 
Find FCAS on Facebook for Field Trip Information
FCAS has a Facebook page where we post announcements about upcoming field trips, last minute changes to scheduled trips, and high-lights of most of our outings. Just click on the “Like" button in the plugin to Like our page! Our announcements should then appear on your wall. You can also click on "Fort Collins Audubon Society" to be taken directly to the Facebook page. Note: All field trips are also announced in the Ptarmigan and on our website.