Talk birdy to me
About a year and a half ago, Shane bought me a bird feeder for my birthday. It was a brilliant gift: modern looking and bright red and generally fabulous. At the time, I was more captured by its architectural qualities than by its association with minuscule flying dinosaurs.
Fast forward to now. Right now. When I get up a little extra early in the morning just so I get a little birdwatching time. When we have a total of five bird feeders. When I’m listening to CDs of bird songs in my car. When I have a checklist of birds, with the most likely candidates neatly highlighted, sitting near the living room window so I can keep track of what I’ve seen. And mark it down as soon as humanly possible after I’ve spotted it.
I’m not totally sure how I became the crazy bird lady, but I think it has something to do with Lina. That child inspires me. Her little Buwd! Buwd! upon seeing a bird at the feeder makes me want to enlighten her with the creature’s common name, latin name, and general characteristics. I want to know things. For her. And I do know things, about supernovas and atoms and knitting and growing tomatoes. But I didn’t know a damn thing about birds.
I know that I can’t know everything. But I can try.
Shane shakes his head, and drives me to the Audubon store. He lends me his killer binoculars. He hangs all the feeders. And he waits patiently as I slowly learn how to identify various birds, something he’s known how to do for a long time. And we sit out on the patio together, with glasses of wine in the evening, watching the little critters hopping about in the garden.
And then Cooper chases them away.
May 15th, 2007 at 09:38
I’m with you on those flying friends. Our backyard would be a sanctioned Audubon bird yard (if it wasn’t for our killer cat,) and we also find ourselves mesmorized by the little wonders that come flitting on through. My favorites are still the humming birds. They always give me pause as I think of what those little bodies of capable of! Hats of to a wonderful spring. I hope it has been as fabulous in Seattle as it is in Eugene!