The Gray Catbird
begins his daily report
while hidden
in the twigs
of this leafy spring.
Occasionally,
he nudges out to the edges
of the dense brush,
where we can admire
his dark, rich gray,
and his narrow
black beret.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan
You're out here with purpose.
Walking through your own woods,
to witness these spring-loving birds
returning to their home territories,
or just passing through
on their northern migration.
It's just another reason
you love the month of May.
To listen to the songbirds
and the warblers
singing to each other,
singing to the sky.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Scarlet Tanager - Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan
2. Bay-breasted Warbler - Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan.
3. Black and White Warbler - Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan.
I have so much space
out here in the quiet country.
Over ten acres of our own woods
to walk, to explore, to learn.
Sometimes during my walks,
I just stop and contemplate
the blessings of this experience.
Each season provides a reason
to get outside and love this place.
I'm learning to listen better.
Not just to our loyal birds,
that I truly love,
but also listening to the quiet.
A privileged pleasure
that I always treasure.
I promise to take care of this space
and to share what I learn with grace,
until I can no longer roam,
and I'm brought back home;
returned to my starting place.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. & 7. All photographed in our Home Woods.
Across this broad field of sage,
a Western Meadowlark is perched;
on a fencepost, on a barbed wire.
From this distance
I can barely make out
his sunrise-yellow breast
with the black tie
pointing down his neck.
I delight in his melodious call,
streaming over the plains;
a long banner of song
curling into the warm wind.
This gift of music,
given by the meadowlark,
received with gratitude.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Hesperus, Colorado
Sometimes, the words
flying around inside my brain,
are like a massing flock of blackbirds;
swooping, looping, dipping, dropping,
landing in the crowns
of leafless trees.
How do they not collide?
At other times the words
organize themselves;
seem to have a direction
and purpose,
flying in an orderly allignment,
like the neatly arranged chevron
of Canada Geese,
or Sandhill Cranes,
that know where they're going
and how to get there.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. 2. & 3. San Pedro River - Sierra Vista, Arizona
4, Home Skies - Cannonsburg, Michigan
you think I'm pretty?
you like my facial features?
Red-naped Sapsucker
© 2025 Richard Havenga
slender and agile
banked turn in synchronized flight
pair of Black-necked Stilts
© Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Eagle Lakes Park - Naples, Florida
2. Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch - Gilbert, Arizona
God speaks to me without words:
In the spectacular inflorescence
of dependable, seasonal wildflowers.
The mist blowing off
the crest of ocean waves.
Through the sweet songs of birds
unraveled effortlessly.
The music playing in the rapids
of a rushing mountain stream.
The atmospheric light
dancing with sky, clouds and rain.
Beauty in nature is not essential,
it's God's voice within gifts of creation.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan
2. Sanibel Island - Florida
3. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan
4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
5. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming
Walking down the fairway
approaching my well-hit ball,
this challenging game of golf
has several benefits for all.
At hole number one it's obvious:
you get to be outdoors;
observing dynamic skies
and all this nature can be yours.
I'm hearing Eastern Bluebirds
fly from tree to tree,
watching them snatch small insects
that I can't even see.
Then a Red-tailed Hawk
sweeps and sails into view,
riding on summer thermals,
another distraction for you.
And down in the wetland,
a group of Canada Geese,
dabbling in shallow water,
paddling and feeding in peace.
And so by the time we begin
our putting at number eighteen,
I've scored a lot more birdies
than my partners from tee to green.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. & 2. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan
3. Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan
Usually, the words
emerge from the quiet.
In the silence of dawn
before the first birds awake.
On the smooth table of water
before the minnow jumps.
During the slow approach of dusk
before the tree crickets chirp.
At the golden glow of moonrise
when wavelets waver the light.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Home Fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan
2. Crooked Lake - Kent County - Michigan
The Juncos have returned
to southwest Michigan
after breeding and nesting
in northern Ontario.
In October and November
I watch them feed
on the minute seeds
of my garden weeds.
Their dark eyes shine
from the slate-colored head
as they pick at the stems
with a pale pink beak.
In winter they scrape and claw
frozen ground under the feeders
with a scritch-scratch,
forward and back.
From the gray tail,
narrow white feathers
flare and flash as they
hop and bop around the shrubs.
Then, some decide to leave,
and a dozen or more
hurry away to catch up.
This small flock of chittering chips.
© 2023 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan
A Mourning Dove
the color of river mud,
the color of autumn dusk,
puffs up its breast feathers
and murmurs a soft lament;
cooing up and down the scale.
Emphasizing the vowels "o" and "u".
Repeating the question "who?"
© 2023 Richard Havenga
Play the Mourning Dove call: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/
Photo Locations:
1. & 2. Canon Township - Kent County - Michigan
A continuous banner of birdsong
was quavering
in the light of dawn.
It was like listening to the symphony
and trying to hear
each individual instrument.
This was no ordinary concert,
for the migrating warblers
had joined the year round residents.
It was the marvelous
month of May in Michigan;
magnificent!
My ears were filled with joy
as my brain picked out
the songs of singers singing.
© 2023 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations (with bird ID):
1. Prothonotary Warbler - Kalamazoo River - Allegan County - Michigan
2. Cape May Warbler - Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan
3. Bay-breasted Warbler - Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan
4. Wilson's Warbler - Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan
5. Scarlet Tanager - Home Woods - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan
At the bird feeder:
A Black-capped Chickadee
gives way to
a Tufted Titmouse.
The Tufted Titmouse
gives way to
a White-breasted Nuthatch.
The White-breasted Nuthatch
gives way to
a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker
gives way to
a Blue Jay.
All winter long, the feeder
gives away a focal point
of captivating interest for Birders.
Accept the gift.
Feed the birds.
Watch the feeders.
© 2023 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Cascade Township - Kent County - Michigan
2. > 8. Home Feeders - Cannonsburg, Michigan
