30 Days of Joy: Day 3-Our Feathered Friends

Have you stopped recently to listen to the birdsong?  It is truly a joyful sound!  When my granddaughter was outside with me the other day, I asked her if she could hear the birds singing.  She stopped and listened intently-then smiled as she looked up into the trees.  So smart!  I hope to teach her to appreciate our feathered friends and to identify them as they come to eat at the feeders. 

Today I need to fill my bird feeders.  I have several on my deck just outside our patio doors.  It is one of my simple pleasures to sit at the kitchen table and watch all of the birds that visit the feeders.  We have a wide variety of finches including goldfinches.

We have several cardinal families that visit daily along with the chickadees and nuthatches.  Sometimes we see  bluejays, cowbirds, or doves.  Once in a while, a bird visits that sends me running for our bird books to try to identify the new species-at least one that I don't recognize!

One of my favorites is the woodpecker who eats the suet we put out.  I have found that if I don't provide the suet, the house is the next target.  So I try to make sure that there is always suet.  We have an understanding.

After I had my cataract surgery, I was amazed at how brightly colored the cardinals were.  Before that time, my vision had dimmed the vibrancy of the colors in the world around me.  I spent a lot of one day just marveling at the beauty of the male cardinals who were eating at our feeders.  

It is fun to watch the bird families that visit as a group.  We also have some birds that are messy as they dig for the specific seeds they like.  The squirrels like it when they visit because they can eat the seeds on the ground.  Others will grab a seed, hold it between their feet, and peck at it to get to the inner section.  Once in a while, we have a bit of drama as birds fight for prime feeding areas.  I now know where the saying "pecking order" comes from.  We see it in action at times.

Once in a while, the squirrels find their ways to the feeders.  They come across the roof of the house or climb the screen door.  Don will scare them off most of the time.  I do occasionally but usually choose to provide food at their level so that they don't feel the need to climb.  The chipmunks and raccoons benefit from that as well.

It's also time to put out my hummingbird feeder.  I saw one yesterday outside our front window which is where I usually hang the feeder.  You have to be quick to see them.  They flit quickly as they seek nectar.  I have planted some cosmos in that area to attract them.  They are fascinating to watch-all of that energy in those quick-moving wings.  Amazing!

I love the slice of nature that the birds and animals in my yard provide.  If you can, take a moment to listen to the birds, watch them in flight, or put out a feeder for them so you can watch them interact with each other.  I find joy daily as the birds and I share our world.  What about you?

Have you found your joy today?