At our old home we had a wonderful bird sanctuary set up. It was a family pastime to sit in the living room window and identify the different types of birds that visited our yard.
Some of our favorites included a Baltimore Oriole and his family that visited us for two summers, the Bluebird families that came every year. The Red-Winged Blackbirds, Hummingbirds, Chickadees, House Finches, Goldfinches and last (as well as least) the Grackles that made their homes in the dying tree in the front yard. It was so much fun to sit and watch. They all stopped by the feeder at their appointed times. I'm not sure who organized the slots each group received but I tend to think it was the male Red-Winged Blackbirds. No offense, they just seemed a bit bossy.
While I was pregnant with Anna in the summer of 2005 I would get acquainted with the Hummingbirds that came to the window feeder. They actually dive-bombed each other if they lingered too long. I was close to them I could even tell the difference between the three that repeatedly came to sip the food. I appropriately named them Goose, Ice Man and Maverick. Clever, hunh?
My point being we really enjoyed getting to know the birds at our feeder. When we moved to our new home we were so very excited to "meet" the new birds. Well, we waited...and waited...and waited. Nothing. We occasionally saw some beautiful Cardinals, Blue Jays, Pileated Woodpeckers, Chickadees and even a rooster Pheasant a couple times. I was still lonely for our old friends.
Today I saw what I'd been waiting for (besides the Bluebirds I'm really excited to see return in a couple weeks) our first Goldfinch. I know these guys stick around all winter but we hadn't seen any. This led me to believe we wouldn't have any in our new setting. Today I was proved wrong. The Goldfinch was eating off a bell-shaped feeder of thistle seeds, their favorite. I was so excited and I think they just needed to be "shown" where the feeder happens to be. For the last few weeks we have been bombarded with Dark-eyed Juncos. They are everywhere! It's a bit creepy actually and I try not to think of Mr. Hitchcock's Birds while I see the 30+ birds feeding under the feeders in the woods. I'm thinking the mass activity had lured the Goldfinches in. Yeah!
Note: For all you FCCers know that my husband calls the Dark-eyed Junco's ... "Bill". Get it? I laugh every time. I wonder if they've heard that joke before?
3 comments:
Birds are SO fun! We have a family of bluebirds that frequents our birdbath in the summer... Saw the first one home this past week! (Poor thing.)
Pretty bird! I love them. Glad to hear that you're seeing new friends! I've been so lazy refilling our feeders - poor babies. I need to get out there, maybe when it stops raining. I just bought an Oriole feeder too! I can't wait to see if they come. Gotta catch 'em early I heard.
My husband has always enjoyed birds, and I am just strating to apprecite their beauty. I am thinking of lovely summer evenings at your home, sitting in the backyard, sipping iced tea and listening to the birds...maybe even watching a bunny or two eating your lettuce!
God bless-
Amanda
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