Photo: Canada Goose, Stephen Zarate/Audubon Photography Awards
Danielle Brigida
We've been watching the birds of northern Virginia very closely. Maybe too closely. Because at some point, we stopped seeing them as birds and started seeing them as…colleagues. Turns out, the birds sharing our region have been quietly modeling workplace archetypes. We're just now catching on.
Carolina Wren. Photo: Clyde Dexter/Audubon Photography Awards
Carolina Wren
Marks every email “urgent!”
Carolina wrens are small birds with outsized personalities. Their loud, persistent songs make them impossible to ignore, even when they're tucked away somewhere nearby.
Blue Jay. Photo: Simon d’Entremont/Audubon Photography Awards
Blue Jay
Knows what’s happening in every department.
Blue Jays are highly intelligent and extremely observant. Just like crows, they can remember faces and have been documented using tools to make work easier. Their excellent Red-shouldered Hawk impression gets everyone in the forest paying attention.
Red-tailed Hawk. Photo: Jesse Gordon/Audubon Photography Awards
Red-tailed Hawk
Nobody knows what they do. Nobody wants to find out.
Red-tailed Hawks spend their days perched and soaring high above the landscape. Their eyesight is so incredible that it puts humans to shame, being eight times stronger than ours. They keep tabs on everything.
Turkey Vultures. Photo: Kevin Juberg/Audubon Photography Awards
Turkey Vulture
The only reason this place still functions.
Turkey Vultures perform one of nature's most important jobs: cleanup. By removing carrion from the landscape, they help prevent the spread of disease and keep ecosystems healthy.
Canada Goose. Photo: Stephen Zarate/Audubon Photography Awards
Canada Goose
The reason we have a code of conduct.
Canada Geese are highly territorial and protective. If they think a space belongs to them, they're unlikely to be persuaded otherwise.
Mourning Dove. Photo: Eva Golebiowska/Audubon Photography Awards
Mourning Dove
Accidentally replies all. Apologies immediately (to all).
Mourning doves are among the most common birds in North America and are frequent visitors to backyards. They're known for their gentle behavior and soft, mournful coos, and questionable (nesting) choices.
The truth is, one of the best things about birding is that the more closely you watch birds, the more individual personalities you start to see.
Some are bold. Some are cautious. Some seem to have their lives together. Others appear to be improvising at all times.
We may have had a little fun assigning workplace roles, but every bird on this list has a fascinating story of its own. The next time you're outside in northern Virginia, see which of your coworkers you can spot. And please let us know who we’re missing for the next edition.
Follow along with our “Birds as Coworkers” series on Instagram!