Become invisible in a hunting blind

Becoming invisible in a hunting blind

I recently went on a nature photography shoot in a hunting blind. That’s right, a hunting blind. Sound like an oxymoron? Not really. We were hunting for woodpeckers to photograph in a natural setting and the blind provided us with the “invisibility” we needed to get up close and personal with our subjects.

I’d never been in a hunting blind before. I was prepared to sit quietly for a long period of time with my fingers ready to snap the best photos. What I didn’t expect was that I would get so caught up with being invisible, that the photos would become secondary.

I am not invisible by nature. I talk – a lot, according to my family. I gesture – even when on the phone. When I hike, I reduce my talking, but I make a lot of noise walking around. It’s just part of who I am. I recognize that my noisy presence probably keeps many animals and birds at a safe distance.

While I was in the blind, bird after bird after bird flew within just a few feet of me. They had no fear. I was accepted as part of their “natural” environment thanks to the blind.

I watched. I waited. I listened. I learned.

What I learned is that listening to birds chirping and woodpeckers knocking on trees is soothing. There is a natural cadence to these sounds that just seems to belong in the world.

I also learned that watching birds slows down time. Birds in flight are an amazing natural scientific achievement regardless of whether they are flitting from branch to branch or soaring across the sky. Time stands still.

I learned that nature has a purpose for everything. Even an old rotted tree is useful as a haven for woodpeckers.

As I sat in the blind, my thoughts slowed down. My breathing became steadier. My shoulders and neck relaxed.

And, I learned that sometimes invisibility has unexpected gifts.

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