Tracey Ormerod

Canadian Nature Photographer | Writer

Look Close

May 12

2025:

A duck napping on one foot with one eye open
From a distance, all I could see was a duck at rest.
And then, up close, and I see more:
he’s napping with one eye open, balanced on one leg.

[Birds can control which side of their brain remains active while they sleep, in order to stay alert to threats and, because their feet are unfeathered, ducks have adapted to balance on one foot while sleeping in order to conserve body heat. And we humans fuss about our mattresses and thread counts.]

2026:

The buds of lilacs yet to bloom, unseen until we look closer
From a distance, it’s all green.
And then, up close, there they are: lilac buds.
Ever so quietly, still in hiding,
preparing to take centre stage.