Tuesday, December 14, 2004
ELEVEN DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS....
How many of you enjoy birds? This time of year the little fellows that we feed all year long give us so much pleasure. Partly because we are in more and have more time to notice their coming and going. We have the run of songbirds in our area and of course, like many of you, we have our favorites but allow all “comers” to eat and drink our offerings. We let the squirrels eat along with the birds….they get along nicely together so other than a little extra feed there is no reason to scare them away. I know they don’t “scare” too well, anyway…..and they give us pleasure in a different way with their crazy antics. They are most entertaining. Since we are both retired we take time to enjoy the little guys that come to visit.
In our zeal to coax more birds, Rocky put up several feeders which he enjoyed making out of wide mouthed emptied plastic bottles. He screwed a plastic lid to the bottom for the birds to stand on while they ate. The idea was taken from a book we bought from the magazine…. “Birds and Blooms.” They love the feeders and it was a compliment to Rocky when they flocked to his feeders. He drove a lead pipe in the ground and then placed 4” plastic pipe around that….he made an arm to swing out and hold the feeder from the lead pipe.
Our kitchen windows look out on the bird baths and feeders and the table where we take our meals is front row, center. It is entertaining to watch and comment as we eat. One day Rocky noticed a little gold finch attempt a landing on the edge of the 4” plastic pipe to hop up on the feeder. He missed, fell into the pipe but amazingly was able to come out of it. We were astounded that a little guy almost fell into the pipe…….and then…..it sunk in that there may have been others. The very thought made both of us sick to think maybe some weren’t as lucky about getting out.
After breakfast, Rocky went out to check and then the awful truth made the full circle. As he raised the plastic pipe a little bird was at the bottom, on the ground, dead. He died looking up out of the 5-foot tall pipe towards the sky. It just broke our hearts to think we could have avoided his demise but we never dreamed a bird would fall into the 4” opening. Sadly, he then raised the other pipe and there were three other little finches dead at the bottom of that one. We were just sick about it.
Rocky took the lids of plastic ice-cream containers and fixed over the open ends so it couldn’t happen again. It was a hard lesson but we are thankful Rocky saw the one little guy who fell in and managed to get out or we still wouldn’t know about the danger and resulting tragedy. Birds are so beautiful and their songs are so uplifting as we come and go in our yard….we have tried to give them bushes and trees…flowers, for their enjoyment in return.
The books say even in winter it is important to see that they have clean, fresh water, so they don’t have to travel great distances looking for water to drink. We have three bird bathes and two small electric water heaters to keep the water from freezing in the winter. We are blessed with multitudes of every local species. One time I counted 14-bluebirds at one of the bird bathes…..and in the harsh winter time with ice and snow on the ground we have had up to 24-cardinals eating cracked corn and sunflower seeds at one time. With the land snow-covered their colors are so beautiful…….we feel honored to have them come to us.
These days of December I have enjoyed talking randomly about the daily thoughts I have…but after the holidays I will return to the story of my life again. I want to finish this year and then be able to editorialize more. As you know, if you are a regular reader, I am writing the family “story” for my children. Hopefully, if God allows, I may have many more years to write about…but if not, I shall always be glad for this time I’ve had with all of you.
Please remember Ellen today who goes back to her oncologist for the prognosis of her CT on Monday. Ellen and Curtis need our prayers every day.
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
In our zeal to coax more birds, Rocky put up several feeders which he enjoyed making out of wide mouthed emptied plastic bottles. He screwed a plastic lid to the bottom for the birds to stand on while they ate. The idea was taken from a book we bought from the magazine…. “Birds and Blooms.” They love the feeders and it was a compliment to Rocky when they flocked to his feeders. He drove a lead pipe in the ground and then placed 4” plastic pipe around that….he made an arm to swing out and hold the feeder from the lead pipe.
Our kitchen windows look out on the bird baths and feeders and the table where we take our meals is front row, center. It is entertaining to watch and comment as we eat. One day Rocky noticed a little gold finch attempt a landing on the edge of the 4” plastic pipe to hop up on the feeder. He missed, fell into the pipe but amazingly was able to come out of it. We were astounded that a little guy almost fell into the pipe…….and then…..it sunk in that there may have been others. The very thought made both of us sick to think maybe some weren’t as lucky about getting out.
After breakfast, Rocky went out to check and then the awful truth made the full circle. As he raised the plastic pipe a little bird was at the bottom, on the ground, dead. He died looking up out of the 5-foot tall pipe towards the sky. It just broke our hearts to think we could have avoided his demise but we never dreamed a bird would fall into the 4” opening. Sadly, he then raised the other pipe and there were three other little finches dead at the bottom of that one. We were just sick about it.
Rocky took the lids of plastic ice-cream containers and fixed over the open ends so it couldn’t happen again. It was a hard lesson but we are thankful Rocky saw the one little guy who fell in and managed to get out or we still wouldn’t know about the danger and resulting tragedy. Birds are so beautiful and their songs are so uplifting as we come and go in our yard….we have tried to give them bushes and trees…flowers, for their enjoyment in return.
The books say even in winter it is important to see that they have clean, fresh water, so they don’t have to travel great distances looking for water to drink. We have three bird bathes and two small electric water heaters to keep the water from freezing in the winter. We are blessed with multitudes of every local species. One time I counted 14-bluebirds at one of the bird bathes…..and in the harsh winter time with ice and snow on the ground we have had up to 24-cardinals eating cracked corn and sunflower seeds at one time. With the land snow-covered their colors are so beautiful…….we feel honored to have them come to us.
These days of December I have enjoyed talking randomly about the daily thoughts I have…but after the holidays I will return to the story of my life again. I want to finish this year and then be able to editorialize more. As you know, if you are a regular reader, I am writing the family “story” for my children. Hopefully, if God allows, I may have many more years to write about…but if not, I shall always be glad for this time I’ve had with all of you.
Please remember Ellen today who goes back to her oncologist for the prognosis of her CT on Monday. Ellen and Curtis need our prayers every day.
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
