It's For The Birds

Papa and Mama Cardinal

I have long been an

avid bird watcher.

My writing table is

stationed in front of

my living room windows

which overlook my front yard
flower bed and the

bird feeder, which stands
 next to the wild lilac bush.

The nearly six foot high
  rectangle bird feeder has

been here since I

bought my house

over twenty years ago.

Now that spring has finally sprung,

with warm daytime temps, lots

of sunshine and clear blue skies,
 and the fragrance of

purple hyacinths
 and newly mown grass
 perfuming the mild air,

I sit each morning drinking my coffee,

writing or answering e-mails, or,

working on my latest blog entry...

and watching the birds.

In my neck of the woods,

one of the first birds to show up

to help demolish the new

pile of black oiled

sunflower seeds I've

left out for them is

the sweet, tiny

Tufted Titmouse.

Tufted Titmouse

He or she is often accompanied by

another little bird native to our area

called a Junco.

Junco

Meanwhile, it does not take

very long for a pesky, but pretty

Blue Jay, or perhaps a pair

of them, to show up,

their raspy calls 

from their perch in

the lilac's budding branches

alerting the rest of

the local avian community
to come and check out

the lastest

"beakfast specials"

at Pamela's Bird Feeder Cafe!

Blue Jay

The noisy Jays are

often notoriously selfish

at the prospect of sharing

the delicious seeds with

the rest of the birds.

In fact, they often

chase the others

away from the feeder.

But even the territorial

Blue Jays are no match for

the squirrels which

suddenly appear to

eat their share!

Gotcha!

Talk about decimating a

pile of seeds in record time!

One of my greatest anticipated joys

every morning

(and often one of the first arrivals

on the scene)

 is a lone red-headed

woodpecker whom I believe

has taken up residence in

the old trees in my side yard.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

I first caught sight of

"Woody" on an

unseasonably warm day

in late autumn

when I spotted him

pecking away at an old

tree right outside my

front door.

I think he (or could it

be a she?)might have

 spent the winter staying

somewhere else,

however, he or she

is back again 

eating breakfast at

my feeder cafe almost

every morning.

Other visitors to

my feeder include...

Brown Wren

...And another sweet little bird

who often looks like he's

wearing a tuxedo!

Carolina Chickadee

I also am visited by

gentle cooing mourning doves...

Grey Mourning Dove

 Common Grackle



"Come and get it!"

I have witnessed more than a few

"Grack Attacks"  at the feeder,

especially if I have left out

some real goodies
like stale cinnamon bread,
cookies, apple pie,

or more recently, left over

cake from Easter as

a special treat for my

feathered friends!

I was genuinely
surprised one day not
too long ago, by the
unexpected appearance
 of a large black bird

 awkwardly perching

 on the

electrical wire 

running from my

house to the street.

I watched as this

extraordinary bird

with wings like

dark shadows

strove to keep his

balance while

 silently scrutinizing
 the activity at the feeder

from his precarious

perch.

The other diners

 quickly scattered out of

the way as the newcomer

 suddenly swooped

down to feast

on a small pile
of seeds

lying untouched

on the ground

near the feeder.

I knew this bird

was no ordinary

common crow.

 With his elongated body

and regal ebony bearing,
I realized, much to
my surprise and delight,

this beautiful and

mysterious visitor

at my feeder was

none other than

a raven!

Nevermore!