We're all too familiar with the rules of quarantine at this point. While the bands are loosening a bit, many of us are still spending the majority of our time close to home. In the interest of not going completely crazy, I started a few projects to keep me busy. Work, writing and family aside, I wanted to do something a bit different. So I started a bird feeding station.
It sounds fancy. It's really just putting out bird seed on the stump outside my office window. It's been great to see how many of the little feathered creatures have taken me up on my offer of free food. Really, they are incredibly generous little creatures. I have chickadees, cardinals, turtle doves and, of course, blue jays.
You learn so much about the natural world. For instance, did you know that blue jays are known to be bullies? I've watched them gang up on the other birds and actually force the little chickadees to eat the seed off the ground. It's a negative stereotype that they don't have to live up to, but they whole heartedly do.
Now that spring as truly unpacked, the robins are here. Did you know that robins are also bullies? Yep. These little guys aren't all sunshine and rainbows. I have a theory that they know they are the heralds of spring and feel that gives them a right to push us around.
In addition to the birds, I have the squirrels and one scary skinny bunny rabbit. I won't mention the squirrels again. Our relationship has been fraught with friction and I'm still healing. But the little bunny has caught my attention. He eats off the ground but I'm fairly certain he's not eating seeds. I feel so bad for the little guy, I almost made him a cheeseburger. No really, this can't be healthy.
But this is life. In a few weeks I'll be starting my garden and I'm sure my relationship with the bunny will then be fraught with friction. He's not showing any interest in promising to leave my vegetables alone.
But this is nature in spring. All new beginnings and fresh promises. All bright eyed wonder and mysterious, tenuous hope. It's just a few birds, a couple of squirrels and one scary skinny bunny, but while I sit with my open laptop, it all serves as a reminder and inspiration. There's a whole 'nother world just under our twitching noses.