We all can migrate

I've talked a lot about migration and the reasons for birds to do it.  Warmth and food - that is, a climate  where they can survive during the cold, inhospitable months and where they can find food.  Not all food works for all birds.  Sometimes this is obvious - hawks eat meat, finches, not so much.   This is a problem with planting non-native plants sometimes.  Some birds will adapt and at least find insects on, say, a eucalyptus tree planted in the Pacific Northwest.  But birds with narrower abilities - (remember, its never a choice) they either can eat it and obtain nourishment, or they cannot.   Anyway.
Most birds migrate every year to the same general area.  Through heredity and sometimes actually following more experienced birds, they arrive to spend the winter, fatten up and wait out the cold.
People do that too, some fatten up more than others.....
We've migrated to Oaxaca City to spend a few warm weeks, and of course, to see the incredible birds that either migrate here or live here year round (endemics).  Oaxaca state is said to be the 'birdiest' state in Mexico, and that's saying something.   We stay each year surrounded by a big green walled garden, full of trees, vines, tropical flowers, birds and the occasional huge spider.  Many North American warblers spend the winter with us, and we waken to their song each day.  There are wrens here, kingbirds, Inca doves, thrashers, and kiskadees, who fly around the periphery of the garden claiming ownership by saying kis-ka-dee! very loudly every hour or so.  This is just a very few of our neighbor birds, and I won't go on and on about how many of what we see.   I find that's only fascinating when I'm seeing and counting them.
What I will say is that the  Mixtec and Zapotec Indian folks who have been here since before anyone else, love the birds.  Birds are found in all their art: woven, painted, carved.   Our friend, Roque Antonio, is a proud Zapotec and professional bird guide. He is  a total pleasure to bird with.  His love and respect of  birds and the land is a joy, and he is happy to share that with us.   We'll spend some time later in the month with Roque, exploring the lowlands of Oaxaca state.    If I am smart enough to learn how to copy photos onto this log, I'll share some of the rare beauties with you.  If not, I'll talk about where we find some of them, which can be quite an adventure.
Right now there is a small flock of Inca doves on our grass.   Each graphite feather is outlined in black and looks like fine lace.  Each dove is tiny, about the size of a sparrow.   Exquisite.
Hasta mañana!