How the practice of birdwatching prepares us to wait with hope for the coming of Christ

By Graham Peters, Manitoba Conservation Science Coordinator

December 1, 2025

In the now distant year of 2023, some neighbours of ours from Metanoia Farmer’s Cooperative had a question; what kinds of birds call the farm and surrounding Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) campus home? Since our office is also located on campus, we thought this was a great question. So together with other skilled birders we set out to find the answer. Every Thursday from spring until fall a small group of us would spend the first hour of our day walking the north side of campus watching for birds. And in doing this day after day, year after year, we began to notice patterns.

Week after week, the same types of birds were being found in the same locations around campus. Some were expected, like the Red-winged Blackbirds that would hang out around the pond, but our walks would lead us to less expected discoveries as well. The corner at Metanoia farm was usually teaming with Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and American Goldfinches, the cedars at CMU’s east entrance hosted Black-capped Chickadees, and the back lawn was often sprawled with Northern Flickers. We were learning not only what birds were around, but where specifically we could expect them.

When you take on a repetitive practice like this, you get familiar with your surroundings, and one thing we learned was that Eastern Bluebirds were nesting nearby, in an area soon to be under construction. So we did our research, and early this year we set up three bird boxes so they would still have space available once they had returned from their winter migration.

Now, did they move in? No. We were blessed by a small family of House Wrens instead, who are notoriously lousy neighbours. But, as we repeated our bird walks, we found that the Bluebirds were still around, and still raising young!

This cycle of noticing avian neighbours reminds me of how we exercise hope in the Advent season. When we put up a bird house for the Bluebirds, we did it in preparation and excitement for their return. It’s not dissimilar to the hope we have during Advent. We know what we are hoping for, the story of the birth of Jesus is something remembered and reflected on year after year, and yet our excitement and anticipation is the same. We still look forward to the birth of Jesus with great enthusiasm, and we prepare. We make space in this season to reflect, and hold space in our hearts.

Hope says that, […] this world is worth cherishing, it’s worth you giving your skill and your attention to. And when you give your skill and attention to it, you put yourself in a position where you can help in the healing and the repair of the world
Norman Wirzba – Textures of Hope

I’ve learned over the years that hope isn’t found in passive reassurance, it’s found in an active pursuit. I don’t have hope in waiting, I enact hope in doing, in working towards what I have hope for. During Advent, I encourage you to reflect on hope as more than waiting in anticipation. Find the action that makes way for what you hope for.

My hope for the flourishing of creation doesn’t involve waiting to see how things will shake out, it involves going out and creating space for the amazing diversity of life we have here, and seeing who takes it up. This Christmas, we aren’t simply waiting for the winter migrants to come back. We’re going out and discovering the birds that are still here, with families in Winnipeg, and out in East Braintree. But when the spring comes, know there will be action to take in wondering at and creating space for our avian neighbours.

Featured Photo by Asher Warkentin