Pleasure in Primary Colors
Yesterday, in the middle of morning family devotions, I saw an Indigo Bunting at the bird feeder. I have never seen this bird on our farm, although I've seen it rarely in this area. I had no idea they ever frequented feeders, but this one returned repeatedly, and I saw him at three different feeding stations--on a tabletop, a tray feeder, and a covered house-shaped feeder. I saw him over a period of several hours, busily pecking away at the feed, or hovering in the Arborvitae tree nearby. That brilliant blue bird made my day.
Also yesterday, two more common visitors appeared: Cardinals and a Goldfinches. The Cardinal was as bright red as ever, and one of the Goldfinches was as brilliant as the shocking yellow plastic parts of the tube-shaped thistle feeder he perched on.
So there they were, bright blue, red, and yellow, animated and musical and all in primary colors.
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Hiromi has always enjoyed watching the few squirrels that visit our bird feeders, but one particular squirrel has almost worn out his welcome. This past winter he ate often from the tabletop, and sometimes from the hanging tray feeder. He was more discriminating in his feeding habits than we had hoped. In the mix of whole corn, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, he avoided the corn, for the most part--the least expensive ingredient in the mix.
Of late, the squirrel has figured out how to remove the roof of the "house" feeder and reach inside for whatever sunflower seeds are present in the all-purpose bird seed mix. He's rather untidy in the process, and brushes aside a lot of milo and millet. It falls on the ground, and goes to waste unless a sufficient number of ground-feeding birds happen upon it.
Hiromi has stopped refilling the "house" feeder. We can't encourage such unreasonable behavior.
Also yesterday, two more common visitors appeared: Cardinals and a Goldfinches. The Cardinal was as bright red as ever, and one of the Goldfinches was as brilliant as the shocking yellow plastic parts of the tube-shaped thistle feeder he perched on.
So there they were, bright blue, red, and yellow, animated and musical and all in primary colors.
********************
Hiromi has always enjoyed watching the few squirrels that visit our bird feeders, but one particular squirrel has almost worn out his welcome. This past winter he ate often from the tabletop, and sometimes from the hanging tray feeder. He was more discriminating in his feeding habits than we had hoped. In the mix of whole corn, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, he avoided the corn, for the most part--the least expensive ingredient in the mix.
Of late, the squirrel has figured out how to remove the roof of the "house" feeder and reach inside for whatever sunflower seeds are present in the all-purpose bird seed mix. He's rather untidy in the process, and brushes aside a lot of milo and millet. It falls on the ground, and goes to waste unless a sufficient number of ground-feeding birds happen upon it.
Hiromi has stopped refilling the "house" feeder. We can't encourage such unreasonable behavior.
posted by Mrs. I at
3:55 AM
1 Comments:
Bill and Maria spotted an indigo bunting in the park where they were fishing yesterday afternoon. That was a first for us in this area.
By
Dorcas Byler, at 5/09/2009
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