It’s pretty quiet out at the farm. We don’t have a lot of traffic so when you’re outside (especially in the spring) the birds are very noticeable. Living on the river, you see lots of geese, bald eagles , wild ducks, hawks and cranes. The larger birds are fishing for small-mouthed bass, which are plentiful in the river.
The bird noises can sometimes be deafening. They’re so distinct, from the sweet melody of the Robin to the annoying yak of the Blue Jay and crow and also to the honking geese passing through. Some birds are easy to identify, for example, the Mourning Dove. Hoohoo … hoo … hoo … hoo. Children often mistake this for an owl. I personally think they sound so sad. We often hear Great Horned Owls at night. Hoo … hoo … hoohoohoohoohoo. I wonder what they’re hooyhooing about. Are they communicating with other owls or warning their prey? “La-la-la-la-laaa…I’m about to eat youyouyouyou.”
The hummingbirds love to come around in the summer. I keep the feeders close to the porch so I can watch them fuss and fight. There’s always one bird who’s a bully and runs all the other birds off. I don’t understand this since there’s more than one place to sit. Can’t we all just get along? Maybe I need to give them a lesson on diversity and inclusion.
The blue jays fly around a lot in the back yard, from the house to chomp on some birdseed and then back to the woods, where they have their nests. I wish all the birds kept their nests in the woods. We have some that insist on making them in the gutters, in the wreathes or in the ferns and any other annoying place. I opened the door to the upstairs porch one day and almost stepped on a snake who was looking for bird eggs. Don’t think snakes can’t climb your house? Mom saw a huge snake shimmying up the kitchen window once. Scared her to death.
Mendota is the Hawk Capitol of the world and apparently they migrate through our area. The chickens and ducks keep a side eye out for these birds as they do not want to be their drive-thru dinner. They instinctively run when they hear that Hawk shriek. The rooster lets out his own little shriek. As he’s hightailing it for safe cover, he’s saying, “Run for your lives, my beautiful girls! Danger is at hand!”
The wild turkeys gobble-gobble their way through the pasture. The impressive males fan their tails trying to attract the females, who have long, sleek necks. They slowly meander around the hills, hopefully eating as many insects as they can which I’m sure the cows appreciate. I wonder what a wild Turkey tastes like. Is it better than a Butterball? Kenny!
We have powerlines around the house, and we often get to view A LOT OF shenanigans. (This is where I roll my eyes) Springtime is crazy with all the mating. Sheweee! They’re fast and very efficient, except one time in the backyard I thought one was killing the other. I hollered but I guess they were just a little overzealous or maybe she wasn’t interested. I have to shut my side mirrors on my car because birds have a little too much fun watching themselves (or mating with themselves?), and in the process poop all over my car.
Bluebirds are my favorite. For some reason, you only see them at the front of the house. They’re so cute and when you see that brilliant spot of blue it just makes you happy, like when you see a rainbow. I’m smiling right now. Are you?
Swallows (or swoopy birds as I call them) are always funny. I remember, my poor sweet, little dog Daisy, couldn’t walk outside to do her business without them being offended and afraid she was going to get their babies. Daisy could barely walk, much less climb a carport to invade their nest.
Mockingbirds surely love to show off their vast array of sounds. I could listen to them all day, unlike that annoying blue jay. I’m listening to one right now as I’m trying to write and I’m getting ready to do some squawking of my own.
My son Adam bought me a clock that has a different bird noise every hour. I like them all except 4:00, which is the Black-capped Chickadee. They’re cute and adorable but that sound grates on my nerves, like fingernails on a chalkboard. Young people don’t know what I’m talking about since most schools don’t have chalkboards anymore.Nails on a whiteboard aren’t annoying at all. My favorite bird on the clock chirps at 1:00. The robin sounds so sweet and soothing.
My son, Sam, gave me a little bird feeder that you attach to your window, using suction cups. I often see the tufted titmouse and cardinal taking a few seeds at a time and then flying off. Sometimes a dove will sit in it, taking up the whole feeder. Reminds me of when I’m eating a bag of potato chips, all sprawled out on the couch. I understand little Dove, I understand.
If you enjoyed this post, please follow/like/comment. Thank you!
Karen G. Bruce 