Joann Merritt's Essays
A Thousand Points Of Flight
December, 1989
No, I can’t clearly explain the meaning of a thousand points of flight, but then who knows exactly what our President’s “Thousand points of light” means? We can all agree it is a thrilling expression of the spirit, though, and since flight suggests birds let’s adapt his expression to our avian experiences.
I’m going to give a TPOF (thousand points of flight) to each birding activity that brings us pleasure. Here’s an example of the many TPOFs we enjoyed when the Anna’s Hummingbird visited Midland in December:
- “Reading” about the Anna’s Hummingbird,
- “Seeing” the drawing of it in Birds of North America,
- “Looking” at it’s photograph in John K. Terres’ book,
- “Hearing” its song, feeble though it is,
- “Viewing” the gorgeous colors of his head and throat as they gleamed a dazzling iridescent rose-red when the sunlight reflected on his feathers,
- His “unexpected” appearance in Midland, especially in December7.
- “Midnats together” sharing the joy of this splendid bird,
- “Recording the ooh-ing, aah-ing and carryings-on of the group in Mike and Shannon’s backyard that afternoon, and
- “Recalling” this event, especially when we hear Don Hunter’s tape recording.
All of these are fantastic TPOFs to a naturalist. I read a poem that says it best:
Let others crowd the giddy court
Of mirth and revelry,
The simple joys that Nature yields
Are sweeter far to me.
Robert Tannahill
A bird in the hand is a TPOL, but if there’s two in the Bush, I suppose it will have to be a TPOL, Mr. President.
The Anna’s Hummingbird’s visit to 406 East Broadway could not have been enjoyed more by the Midnats who viewed it, but our joy might have been lessened had we realized this would be their “farewell bird”. We will miss Shannon, Mike and Jeremy and wish them good birding as they make their home in Houston.