Feeding the Birds, Feeding Myself
I feed the birds, not only in the winter, but year-round. I enjoy watching them, identifying them. I keep my Peterson's Field Guide close-by at all times just in case a new variety flies in that I haven't seen before. I maintain a life-list, too; a long list of all the birds I've ever seen in my life. I know that the birds can survive without me, that they can forage for seeds and berries. And yet, on the other hand, I suppose it's human nature to want to believe that they need me. I clean and fill the bird bath; make new, clean nectar for the Hummers every other day in the summer and keep all the specialized feeders filled with their own specific type of seed. I say I'm doing it for the birds. And yet, I am feeding myself... the joys associated with watching the birds fills my heart and soul with wonder and contentment. Is there anything better, really, than sitting on the porch in the still of the evening and counting the birds while listening to their sweet songs of happiness? I doubt it, unless it's chasing away the pesky squirrels who think I do this all for them... but then, they're part of God's creation, too. They are aren't they? I admit that at times I wonder...All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Life is good!
(Squirrels and all...)
3 comments:
Wow, posts back to back....
I live to amaze you!
You appear to have a watered-down disdain for squirrels compared to my bride, who beleives that "they should all just die. Die!" In her defense, they treat our garden like the local Denny's. She also watches alot of vampire movies.
The little squirrels taught me something about bird feeders. We have a hanging feeder, which USED TO hang from a rope. The rope kept "breaking", and I fugured it was just a cheap rope. But one day I found a squirrel hanging from the branch chewing through the rope!!! What a little creep! I was tragically unarmed.
I sat there amazed as he calmly chewed through the rope, and hopped up just as it broke. He'd done this before. My lovely feeder crashed to the ground, spilling forth its contents. He ran down and had his fill. The feeder, a gift from Galena, has been sturdy enough to survive it's many gravity-induced collisions.
The feeder now hangs from a metal chain. And yes, I saw a squirrel bite down on that chain. Payback, buddy!!
I kinda like having them around. I assume every innovation I create, they will figure out how to defeat. The circle of life...
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