There’s a connection to gardening that comes from getting into birdwatching. It’s also a sign you’ve really gotten up there. I can laugh at myself….
I started looking at guides this winter to see what birds are here at our place – I knew some, such as the jerk Mockingbird that in summer would hang out in the trees while I gardened, and mimic a tiny kitten. Really weird, my birdy friend. All the time. And Saturday morning I went outside…and it was back. I have conversations with them. It’s entertaining for both sides, I have come to feel.
It started with this tiny feeder I saw at Dollar General. It’s been cold so long here in West Virginia, and we have so many birds that do not fly south for the winter.
Maybe it is from years of having chickens – the birds would hang out with them, and get free food in the coop runs.
When the snow came in January, and the temperatures got into the negatives, I knew I needed to help them.
First, the tiny feeder on the back of the house.
Then the one out front, which I hung on the handrail
It was covered in birds almost instantly.
And the level of excitement when I saw a Cardinal show up. 16 year old me would have smacked old Sarah……
Once the snow finally melted (3 weeks later), I started putting up shepherd poles along the garden fence so I could hang various feeders. I picked up a nice one, as the little wood cedar one I put out front got trashed by the squirrel.Which I can fix it, but it served its purpose, to get them through the hard weeks.
And now they have a pretty one for the rest of winter.
~Sarah