If you take a summer stroll along the swaths of Agate Beach, Oregon, you’ll most likely get a glimpse of the diversity of bird life. You might see white gulls effortlessly split the wind in search of prey, Rock Sandpipers dart in and out of frothy swash, and the occasional dark slender neck of a Cormorant before it dives below the waves.
The species of Cormorant that call Oregon home can dive to depths of more than 200 ft in search of fish and small shellfish1. Once they surface, they’ll soar to a nearby tree branch at a selectively windy prominence and spread their wings to dry off. The Cormorant species have relatively less preen oil than most birds, which means their feathers soak in, rather than repel water2. The thought is that the insufficiency of preen oil allows the cormorant to maintain agility underwater while shedding buoyancy, allowing it to spend more time sub-surface in search of prey. What might be thought of as a hindrance to the Cormorant, enables it to be a much more efficient hunter.
There are at least two lessons to be learned from this particular bird. One, we all need rest. In a culture infatuated with the idea that “go go go” will lead to a satisfying and meaningful life, rest continually gets pushed off. Over the long term, you begin to realize you can’t truly live without a little downtime. Two, what might seem a weakness on the outside, can be a strength on the inside. If you are vulnerable with others you trust, for one example (among many), showing your scars, fears, and doubts, this can exemplify the inner strength of being comfortable enough around others and yourself to share who you really are.
What are lessons you can learn from the surrounding nature that you may have taken for granted in the past?
Azure Adventure 