Birds of Inwood - Visit Teri's new blog about birds!

Birds of Inwood - Visit Teri's new blog about birds!
A visual journey exploring the birds of Inwood and Northern Manhattan

Still Photographs from a City on Pause

Still here. That's the best thing to say in a city at a standstill. The city has become a still photograph. In a city known as a center for television and motion pictures, there's little motion.


Looking out the window, there's often little movement of humans on the street. The birds are active. They fly from nests to windowsills and from trees to other trees. Yes, occasionally there's a person walking, a delivery truck arriving, or an emergency vehicle zooming past. Most mornings begin with the sounds of birds.


Spring storms have brought some variation to the still scenes outside, and in a slow fade, the springtime is making itself known. It's been good to open the window and smell the rain and fresh air.



There have been a few moments of absurdity in my neighborhood. The regular guys still assemble at the bodega across the street, sipping beer out of cans in paper bags. They don't move much, but they will run off their mouths. This past Tuesday, during their street corner happy hour, one of them appeared as Santa in the middle of the intersection.


In a situation that has yet to depart from weird and tragic and completely surreal, and in a time in which few can easily discern one day from the next, it makes sense that months and seasons may be confusing, too.


Wake up. Eat. Look around. Take a nap. Eat. Play with a few toys. Hang out. Eat. Sleep. Those with cats can now better appreciate the eternal day of the cat. By the way, happy Caturday!


On Saturday morning, shoppers line up at the greenmarket down the street. Like everything else, the market scene has slowed down. As they wait in line, they stand perfectly still.

Images by Walking Off the Big Apple from April 2020.

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