Suddenly today it is very cold. Too windy to be nice for walking outside, but then one must walk anyway, for the sake of the beloved dog. When we get back, Latte is happy to scoot quickly into the house.
But I want to check the bird feeders. Whoa! I filled them this morning, but they’re already empty. I fill a feeder with hulled sunflower seeds and add a handful of shelled walnuts to the platform. Suet must be replenished also.
While I’m busy with the feeders, the chickadees begin to assemble. They must have been keeping an eye out, because here they’re before I’m even finished.
I jam my red hands into my coat pockets and lean against the house to watch. The birds are gathering, woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, sparrows. But first were the chickadees. I try to count them. Five at a time. Seven. It’s difficult, because all are in motion. There! Ten at once, for half a second.
As I stand quietly, more and more birds perch in the nearby branches. They dash in for a seed and split for the far side of the tree. They fly so close to me that my ears fill with the flit-flut of their wings. A few of everything, but quite a lot of chickadees.
In this moment I’m completely happy.
Love these little guys...with their little black feather balaclavas!
I feed the chickadees that share my life with a treat of peanut butter suet which they love. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story about the chickadees who share your life.