Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak. In the 25 months I have been writing for The Mountain-Ear, I believe that a couple of times I have mentioned moving to Colorado in 2007. With the exception of the two years I lived in Europe; Colorado has been my home. I was born in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but since my fifth year on this earth, I have been American. Life has felt like the longest, most complicated riddle I’ve had to struggle to answer. Having said this, I now know that the riddles in need of answers are the ones that were created by every decision I ever made. 

While on yet another hike, I found my brain unable to stop contemplating how I got to where I am. My apologies, by the way. There isn’t much to do lately, except spend more and more time in nature. Which to my standards, is the best way to spend one’s time. Nevertheless, today’s column is more about Colorado birds and puzzles than the great outdoors. Did you know that there are at least 10 common backyard birds in our colorful state? I’m sure you’ve seen them. Magpies, finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers and chickadees to name a few. 

There are also birds that visit us for short periods of time that I think deserve some mention. Most of us are aware of migratory birds like hummingbirds, sometimes swans, robins and egrets. Twice in the last month I have spotted the American Robin. One was in my front yard and the second time was during a hike in the Arapaho National Forest in Gilpin County. As I spent quite a bit of time observing these birds, I found myself asking: Why Colorado? I quickly answered my own question: Why not? Colorado is amazing! It’s perfect for people and for nature. Even more so for people who love nature.

Like most migratory birds, robins migrate because the ground freezes and they can’t get to their favorite foods like earthworms, caterpillars and other insect food. During migration, they have been tagged flying upwards of 36 miles per hour and covering up to 200 miles per day. One of the most fascinating things about robins is that they figure out their migrating paths by using the angle of the sun in relation to the time of day. If and when they are blown off course, they fly to where the sun will be at the proper angle.

I think that this is how I found myself in Colorado. Unconsciously, I followed my heart to where the sun’s angle was best for my soul. From Puerto Rico to New York to Florida to Colorado to Europe and back to Colorado. I’ve migrated a lot and according to technicalities, I am an American, a Coloradan and a Puerto Rican. However, if you asked my heart what I am, my answer will proudly be: I am simply a human figuring my way through life.

(Originally published in the June 18, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)