My Feeder is Up and All Systems are "GO!"... Now What?!?
Thought that we might start this one off on a serene note.
And serenity is a good theme for this post. Let's see...
Ok... So you've mounted your feeder (part 1 and part 2), you've built your bird house (part 1 and part 2), you've made sure that the feeders are clean, you've chosen your feed (part 1 and part 2). So now what?
This is where so many people blow it. If it's in the morning, they open the curtains, plop down on the sofa, turn on the living-room brain bandit, and then wolf down a donut with coffee. If it's dusk, they close the curtains, plop down on the sofa, turn on the living-room brain bandit, and then wolf down a couple of drinks and a microwave dinner with a piece of pie. But where's the calm?
So the birds have been fed... Out of sight, out of mind... Right? After all... It's time for a recap of the "teevee" standards like "Jocks Gone 'Roid Rage' Wild"; or "Who Wants to be an American Idol Survivor Who Washes a Millionaire's Socks?"; or the endlessly popular, 24-hr, "Glamour News Presented by Agenda-Driven Idiots and Id-Saturated Ghouls".
Ummm...
Here's what I propose... For just a few minutes per day, you mute your living-room brain bandit. (For heaven's sake don't turn it off; sensory-overload deprivation can be crushing.) But just mute it. Then take your beverage and your pie, and go watch the birds, for just a few minutes.
And if you want to get really radical, you can listen to free music while you're watching the feeder(s). Yup. Free music. Magnatune offers free music over the Net. (I'd suggest the Classical section, and Duo Chambure deserves a real listen!) On a more "folksy" note, check out Janis Ian. (The song "My Tennessee Hills" is simply a work of art by Janis and Dolly Parton.)
In future posts, we'll suggest other ways that you can enjoy the birds. But for the moment, you first have to just look at them - preferably in a quiet and peaceful environment.
We're getting there...
See you by the feeders (unless I find the remote),
CapeCodAlan
Comments
You are so right about time. I love early morning and late evening bird watching, as that is when they really pack the feeders. I have 4 seed feeders(sunflower hearts and chips) 1 peanut feeder (for the woodpeckers), 2 hummingbird feeders and 1 oriole feeder (Which the hummies use too). I am currently going through about 70 pounds of sunflower hearts and chips a week as the babies are all out of the nests. And about 1.25 gallons of nectar.
Late evening, just before the light fades, is best hummer viewing. They are getting ready for the even topor, and they don't try to 'guard' the feeders. I have had all ports full plus birds waiting! I have Black Chinned, Annas and Allens, and the Rufous come through each spring and fall. What a show!
Posted by: Diane | June 5, 2007 7:57 PM