I feel fortunate to live on a delta where the Fraser River enters the Salish Sea. Of the many great perks to living where river meets ocean, one of my favorites is that my “backyard” is an important migratory stop on the Pacific flyway for millions upon millions of birds—a front-row seat to some of God’s greatest movers every spring and fall.
Currently, my neighborhood is a resting spot for the western sandpiper. Tens of thousands are migrating 9000 km from Peru to their nesting grounds in Alaska. They stop here to fuel on some essential fats that are available on the mudflats when the tide is out.
Most of the time, these small sandpipers are quite boring as they wade around the flats during low tide. But if you are patient and lucky, you can see thousands lift off together, their tiny bodies forming dancing clouds. And, if the sun is at just the right angle, these clouds shimmer as the light catches their white undersides. Creation enjoying.
This seasonal miracle stops me in my tracks every evening during my own daily migration rhythm along the shores of the Salish Sea.
