“The Running Naturalist” is a nickname that I recently gave myself during a run around the Charles River. The explanation for the nickname is that I love to run, but if I hear an interesting bird call that I want to investigate further, I interrupt my workout. Nature takes priority over running.
I heard the Cedar Waxwings before I saw them. They have an extremely high-pitched monotone call. When I heard them, I looked in the direction of the sound, and five of them immediately took flight. They look like little flying drops of peach sunshine.
I began to run again. About a mile later, I stopped running to watch a Double-crested cormorant coming in for a smooth water landing. This running-interrupted-by-nature behavior is precisely why I usually run by myself. If I do run with anyone else, I will explain my tendencies to them before heading out.
OspreyWing 