Spruce Hens and Comfort Zones

A few times a year I encounter a spruce hen on the road coming in or out of my neighborhood. These birds have a very tiny brain and it often shows in their behavior. Because of their natural camouflage, the birds easily blend into the roadside. And that is their primary defense, being quiet and blending in. That is the spruce hen’s comfort zone.

And because she knows her camouflage is well-suited to the gravel on the road, a spruce hen is perfectly content standing still right in the middle of the road. “If I don’t move, he can’t see me!”

And while she may be correct – passing cars may very well not be able to see her – she is still at great risk of being run over by an unwitting driver. She is in her comfort zone, but far from safe.

I realize there may be times when our comfort zones overlap with safety. But in many instances, comfort zones can give us a false sense of security. They can lull us into complacency and dull our true sense of risk.

Comfort rarely brings security. We must audit our comfort zones to see if they might actually be endangering us.

Being quiet and fitting in might be comfortable, but it can also bring great risks.

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