Observing Life Among Our Backyard Birds

 Relationships are like birds.  If you hold too tightly, they die.  If you hold too loosely, they fly.  But if you hold with care, they remain with you forever.

One of my greatest joys is sharing my outdoor space with the birds.  We feed the birds year-round and in return for a good meal, the birds who frequent our feeders provide us with endless entertainment and occasionally some life lessons.  

It's fun to observe the constant flurry of activity at the feeders, particularly the variety of visitors that stop by for a snack or in some cases, a feast.  While there are regulars, there's always that occasional surprise visitor - this year a lone robin who has adopted the feeding habits of the regular diners.  This robin has decided to expand his dining horizons and is now eating from our feeders, a first for us in our 40+ years of bird feeding.  Of course, switching from ground feeding to sharing a perch to dine means dealing with some friendly and occasionally aggressive competition.

We never have summer bluebirds, but come October or November a small flock returns to take advantage of the ample food supply. In addition to sunflower hearts, our bluebirds enjoy dry mealworms, suet and peanut butter balls. Those are a big favorite with all the birds.

A heated birdbath makes for quick and handy hydration ....or warm bath.

Occasionally things get testy and patrons forget their table manners............

And sometimes there's a bit of confusion about who got there first..........

Mostly though the birds co-exist, peacefully taking turns, sharing the wealth and demonstrating the ability to take advantage of a moment to stop and rest and enjoy the sunshine.

If the feeder is empty...take advantage of the space to rest!

We need to be more like the birds in nature....to respect each other's space, not be too judgmental, share, rest when necessary and make room for new friends.  But even in the best circumstances, sometimes a bully comes along and tries to ruin the fun........

Beware of those kinds of intruders and when they show up, and they will, don't let them steal your joy.  Stick together, defend your territory and never let them see you sweat!

“All birds find shelter during a rain, but the eagle avoids the rain by flying above the clouds. Problems are common, but attitude makes the difference.” 

Thanks for stopping by Life As I See It.  I hope you enjoyed today's post.  If you did, be sure to share.  For more like this, check out my Directory under the category 'Animal Friends".  

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