Together

During a trip to the Maine Coast, I was fascinated with Puffins. We had the great fortune to go out on a day when the weather, and the puffins all cooperated. The day before they had seen five, the day we went, the captain and the guide estimated that we saw over 300. Until recently, not too much was known about the mysterious little birds. They are about the size of a can of beer. What was known was that once one showed up, it would not be long before others arrived. I was fascinated by this group. They moved together like a well-trained formation even down to the smallest of changes in course. They were connected by an invisible link and that connectedness was unmistakable. These birds live in harsh conditions wintering off the coast on the water where they breed. Through man's intervention and assistance and support they have begun to return to nesting areas on remote islands to nest and regenerate. Birds are a fascinating way to observe group behavior from murmuring where they all move as one in a flock or the annual highly organized migrations. There are many things unknown about all birds but not that if a flock is part of their existence, they share lots of connection that is invisible and mysterious. There are species of bird that are loners outside of mating. Raptors are a great example. But most birds are breathtaking moving together in coordinate ways to insure that the flock is protected and life goes on. We could learn a great deal from that behavior. There is no doubt that many have discovered recently just how much we depend upon friends and family to not just add pleasure to our lives but to enhance our very existence. What will be our next lesson? Will we be able to move as a coordinated group of puffins to make sure we survive? Let's hope so.