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Though I am on an extremely tight budget [which has been severely tested of recent] and do not get around like I used to, before winter set in I pulled an old feeder from a shelf in the garage, filled it with seed and suet cakes and hung it in the Pine tree out front- and waited. And waited. It took well over a week but the birds eventually found way to my offering and stayed throughout the winter months. A good thing since we had extended periods where the landscape lay blanketed in snow. Though Robins seldom eat seed, for those who returned too early (due to erratic warm spells) they were clearly stressed.
The Chickadees were the first to arrive. When I heard their mirthful birdsong, I knew we were in business. Along with the usual suspects of: assorted Sparrows; a horde of brattish Starlings; and a few Mourning Doves; (the hesitant cardinals stopped by only every once in a while) a little Downy Woodpecker found way to my tree. Yes. That meant I had to go out again and buy a woodpecker brick; but- I just loved to hear him peep. I've yet to see a female though.
Drawn to the suet cakes, a Mockingbird eventually graced me with his daily presence. It took a couple of visits to the feeder and a good look through a birder's book to identify him. But up until that first day, I had never seen a mockingbird.
Once Spring arrived, there came more species of the winged ones; along with a squirrel or three. I rarely saw the Grackles before the seasons changed but they're here now. Strutting and chattering about. The Brown-headed Cowbirds (whose birdcall sounds almost electric) have also arrived. At least one pair of House Finches visit daily. Another male showed up the other day. There are a few more Mourning Doves. Two definite mated pairs along a few single ones looking to connect.
Then there is my favoritest of guests- a Red-winged Blackbird. He sings his arrival each time he visits. Only this week did I finally see his mate. I never thought to see a Red-winged at a feeder. All the more a gift. For some reason I felt so inclined to name them: Winston and Moira, respectively.
Earlier this week, a male Goldfinch stopped by to feed. He still bears the remnants of dark winter coloring down his back. So far, I've only seen him that one time. I looked out (from the upstairs window) one morning to find the long-tailed squirrel tucked-tail and all-in one side of the feeder. He looked so cute there, I laughed out loud. Since I had already opened the window, I almost scared him away. I call him the long-tailed one because there is obviously one with but half the fluff.
While watching the comings and goings one sunny afternoon, a Blue Jay flew up and landed on a branch about mid way up the tree. Not to partake; just a look about. I'm guessing merely to check out all the fuss- and then flew away. Later during that same watch, there also came a very small yet-to-be-specifically-identified Rusty-capped Sparrow. I have the page marked, but it will require another visit to know exactly which variety.
The seemingly elusive pair of Cardinals are now my daily guests. Though they flit in and out throughout any given day, they arrive first at Dawn and finish out the day at Dusk. I call them my Between Ones. The Mourning Doves have grown more comfortable and occasionally hunker down for a nap or to bathe in the warmth of the sun. It is even more sweet to find them settled side by side on a pine bough. There is a comfort associated with their presence; with things seeming not-quite-right when they go missing.
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The Chickadees were the first to arrive. When I heard their mirthful birdsong, I knew we were in business. Along with the usual suspects of: assorted Sparrows; a horde of brattish Starlings; and a few Mourning Doves; (the hesitant cardinals stopped by only every once in a while) a little Downy Woodpecker found way to my tree. Yes. That meant I had to go out again and buy a woodpecker brick; but- I just loved to hear him peep. I've yet to see a female though.
Drawn to the suet cakes, a Mockingbird eventually graced me with his daily presence. It took a couple of visits to the feeder and a good look through a birder's book to identify him. But up until that first day, I had never seen a mockingbird.
Once Spring arrived, there came more species of the winged ones; along with a squirrel or three. I rarely saw the Grackles before the seasons changed but they're here now. Strutting and chattering about. The Brown-headed Cowbirds (whose birdcall sounds almost electric) have also arrived. At least one pair of House Finches visit daily. Another male showed up the other day. There are a few more Mourning Doves. Two definite mated pairs along a few single ones looking to connect.
Then there is my favoritest of guests- a Red-winged Blackbird. He sings his arrival each time he visits. Only this week did I finally see his mate. I never thought to see a Red-winged at a feeder. All the more a gift. For some reason I felt so inclined to name them: Winston and Moira, respectively.
Earlier this week, a male Goldfinch stopped by to feed. He still bears the remnants of dark winter coloring down his back. So far, I've only seen him that one time. I looked out (from the upstairs window) one morning to find the long-tailed squirrel tucked-tail and all-in one side of the feeder. He looked so cute there, I laughed out loud. Since I had already opened the window, I almost scared him away. I call him the long-tailed one because there is obviously one with but half the fluff.
While watching the comings and goings one sunny afternoon, a Blue Jay flew up and landed on a branch about mid way up the tree. Not to partake; just a look about. I'm guessing merely to check out all the fuss- and then flew away. Later during that same watch, there also came a very small yet-to-be-specifically-identified Rusty-capped Sparrow. I have the page marked, but it will require another visit to know exactly which variety.
The seemingly elusive pair of Cardinals are now my daily guests. Though they flit in and out throughout any given day, they arrive first at Dawn and finish out the day at Dusk. I call them my Between Ones. The Mourning Doves have grown more comfortable and occasionally hunker down for a nap or to bathe in the warmth of the sun. It is even more sweet to find them settled side by side on a pine bough. There is a comfort associated with their presence; with things seeming not-quite-right when they go missing.
.
Everywhere I lived, I have always provided some kind of feeder and bird bath. Especially during the winter when it's harder, at times (for the ground feeders), to find seed. Now there is another. A Bird Garden in progress. Yes. It keeps my house-bound cats, Lucy and Pearl, entertained. I've been shy of purposely shooing away the birds in order to give the ‘the girls' some time to relax! Mainly, I had a desperate need to reconnect with Nature and am gifted each day with glimpses of its wonders. Be it when the little Downy Woodpecker refused to be bullied away by the horde of scrappy Starlings, or the male House Finch giving a seed to the mate alighted by his side.This is my ever so humble way of giving back. Though it may seem that certain of us do not yet, (truly) know the more immediate affects of the no-longer deniable reality of Global Warming, we are paying more at the store (for certain crops) due to extended droughts and/or damage done by the more harsh, erratic weather patterns. It hasn't taken a scientific explanation to tell most us that fact. Both local and national news media now focus more attention on what is going on and how can each challenge the affects of a crying planet.
Many of the Original or First Nations Peoples have a custom they call, A Giveaway. It is the giving of any one thing (or things) of whatever value, to those who may not be as fortunate or for whatever the reason, simply be in need. The ‘gifts' are deposited upon the ground - an indication of something that no longer belongs to one person or another - a thing (or things) now free for the taking.
As regards the world just outside countless front and back doors, we have taken away so much from those seemingly less important. To build more roads, highways, housing developments, shopping malls, etc. We take for granted the birds,( as well as squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, woodchucks, opossum-the list varies) can simply go somewhere else. Too many give little to no thought as to whether there is an elsewhere for the winged (or the four-legged) to go.
Where should we expect them to travel when we continue to chip away at what we leave them? It has been reported (just this month) that there are a number of species (animal, fish, and bird) heading toward endangerment. And regardless the countless species that have vanished over the millenniums, (known now only by their fossilized remains, all-but-forgotten paintings on rediscovered earthen walls, or by a long-dead anthropologist's or wildlife artist's field renderings) these are dying because of our corruption of what's left for them to inhabit.
In recent decades and by no little effort, by a seemingly determined few, we have taken a number of species off the Endangered Species List. It will take a much greater number to correct this endeavor. And it would be unconscionable of us to let any one of them go by the way when we know we can make a difference.
Think how it would sound if there were no birds to sing throughout any given day. During the days and weeks that followed the landfall of Katrina, one thing the people directly effected noticed and commented on was the quiet. There were no birds. No birdsong. A thing not missed- until it's gone?
Today is Earth Day. A day to focus on a terribly endangered World. It is day to decide what we can do to make our lives or home more Green. To plant a tree or for simply giving back. It could also be the day to build or go buy a feeder and create a place for the winged ones. A sacred place. A giveaway sanctuary for those, so often taken for granted, to know they are welcome when there may be nowhere else to go.
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© 2007, L.L. Abbott ~ Pearls of Wisdom, All Rights Reserved
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