“My father, who was from the Dominican Republic and only spoke Spanish, would tell me the names of the birds and that introduction–or that language–is what sparked my curiosity. They didn’t call them northern cardinals, they didn’t call them hummingbirds. They called them Little Flying Jewels.” ~ Maria-Elena Montero

Suffice it to say: birds piqued plenty of peoples’ curiosity in the last few years.

Particular passions aside, birds seem like a delightful lens through which to view curiosity. Here’s a species that lives among us, is literally part of the scenery, but to which many of us are almost entirely blind. But when we choose to be curious about birds, suddenly it’s like a whole new universe emerges in our own backyards. 

We see things we didn’t see before. 

We hear things we didn’t hear before. 

We learn things we didn’t know before.

You can imagine my delight when I stumbled on María-Elena Montero, president of the DC Bird Alliance. She leapt at the chance to talk about birds–as well as some of the curiosity practices and life lessons to be learned from our avian friends.

Oh, the lesson I learn from hummingbirds–that tiny little bird, so tiny it’s measured in grams, not even ounces, that makes one of the most epic migrations in the whole avian kingdom! Not once does that bird ever stop and say, “I’m too small. I can’t do this. Oh my God, look at my body. I can’t do this.” So if the bird doesn’t do that, what’s my excuse?

…and what’s not to love about someone who reminds us: Look up!

Listen to Choose to Be Curious #259: We Are All Birders, with Maria-Elena Montero

Check out the DC Bird Alliance, or find a birding group near you.

I have fun with Cornell Lab’s Merlin app which helps me identify bird songs when I’m just out and about. Once you start listening, you will hear birds everywhere!

If this conversation piqued your curiosity, you might enjoy these C2BC Classics: Animal Curiosity at the National Zoo; Curiosity Promotes Biodiversity, with Carolin Sommer-Trembo; and Ode to Crows, with Colleen & John Marzluff.

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Wingspan” by Bayou Birds, via Blue Dot Sessions.

You can subscribe to Choose to Be Curious on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.