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05/26/2003 Archived Entry: "BIRDS OF A FEATHER"

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Birds are so interesting. I guess that's the reason so many people like to follow their strange, yet predictable habits.

For the past twelve days, we’ve had a bird with a beak full of nesting material trying to get in our house to build a nest. I’m almost to the point to just open the door and let him in. The pecking starts at dawn and is relentless through most of the day. At first glimpse, I thought it was an oriole, but since a glimpse is all I ever get of it, I’ve changed my mind. It looks more like a black-headed grosbeak, but they aren’t all that common to this area. At least I don’t think so. Someone can let me know. Sneaking up on it to get a good look is almost impossible.

During this time of year, since all the windows in the house are open, the first morning sound I hear is one of our faithful cardinals, who at five twenty five, belts out his loud abbreviated half song and then stops. I’m sure he’s hit his snooze alarm so he can sleep for another fifteen minutes. Silence. All I can hear is the sound of vehicles going over the rumble strips on the highway. Then he comes up with another longer song, but still not the full thing. None of the other birds respond. Finally, after about half an hour, he tackles it again and by this time, his other feathers friends are rustling in their roosts and slowly come out to play. It’s not long until the cacophony of bird sounds will roust anyone out of bed. That noise is soon followed by the constant pecking at our window by Mr. Groesbeak.

I hear lots of mourning doves too....always from a distance. We have them in our yard all the time, feeding on the ground under the feeders, but they never sing their mournful song where I can see them. Their song is sung by some dove far away. I've never heard one sing close to where I am.

Well, spring is always interesting around here. I wouldn't trade this location for for barking dogs and howling cats in town...fur nuttin'. I remember what that was like.