Daddy taught us to watch birds and love them. He put a little square cardboard box up in the eaves on the back porch so the bluebirds could nest, and located it so we could watch from the kitchen window. Cats who tried to rob the nest bought trouble for themselves that they surely didn't want!!
Mrs. Sheehan sponsored a 2nd Grade birdhouse contest when I was in her class. I was so excited to see what I could do! I took my excitement home and told 
Daddy about Mrs. Sheehan's contest. Would he help me make a birdhouse?? Absolutely!!! And so we set to work. It was fun to watch Daddy measure and cut, explaining all the time what kind of birdie bungalow would be best for the kinds of birds we had around. Daddy even shingled the roof with cut-down asphalt shingles, and we decided that we would mount it up in the peak of the chicken house eaves.
Daddy about Mrs. Sheehan's contest. Would he help me make a birdhouse?? Absolutely!!! And so we set to work. It was fun to watch Daddy measure and cut, explaining all the time what kind of birdie bungalow would be best for the kinds of birds we had around. Daddy even shingled the roof with cut-down asphalt shingles, and we decided that we would mount it up in the peak of the chicken house eaves. That little birdhouse won the contest and earned me a 25-cent's worth First Prize. Daddy had done the work!!
So we were raised with a love for the little birdies, and Daddy would call Sue & I, "Chickadee".
A few winters ago, I noticed some darling little black-hooded birds who would come and bob around on the vines outside the computer room window. Immediately, I thought of chickadees. They were so cute, friendly and fat. But they weren't small enough for chickadees. The bird book told me they were Oregon Juncos, and they come back every year.
We started putting birdseed outside the dining room window three winters ago, enjoying watching our winged visitors feed. We have sparrows, who come in big flocks like storm troopers. There are morning doves whose tail feathers look like scalloped eyelet lace when they come in for a landing. And there are the little juncos who are calmer than the sparrows, although both birds are about the same size.
We started putting birdseed outside the dining room window three winters ago, enjoying watching our winged visitors feed. We have sparrows, who come in big flocks like storm troopers. There are morning doves whose tail feathers look like scalloped eyelet lace when they come in for a landing. And there are the little juncos who are calmer than the sparrows, although both birds are about the same size.
I've heard that some children refer to angels as Birdies . . . and those little feathered beings have brought that kind of jo
y to my life.
y to my life. Above right: Dove & sparrows by Wayne's rock garden
Left: Two doves puffed up to stay warm on a power line.
Right: Oregon juncos and a sparrow feed outside the window
1 comment:
This post evokes so many memories. I didn't know that you built the bird house on the chicken coop. I love little birds: their songs, their bright eyes and quick ways.
Love this post.
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