My summer residents are arriving by the hundreds. Yes, hundreds, and I look forward to seeing everyone I can. They are the perfect guests. I don't have to feed them although they are very appreciative of any morsels I put out for them. I don't have to clean my house in preparation for their arrival. Nor do I have to make any beds or do any laundry for them. They stop by periodically so that I may soak in their beauty and enjoy their antics. They provide me with endless music everyday and night. Starting with a morning chorus, settling into a lighter melody through the day ending with a night punctuated with occasional shout outs to their friends. They don't leave me a mess to clean up even when they bring their babies by later in the summer. Some of them converse with me. I don't understand what they are saying but the still answer my replies. Yes, my bird guests are arriving daily, melding seamlessly with my year round residents.
I held a conversation with my Green Heron resident as it started setting up house again by the barn. Soon there will be gawky babies tentatively fledging to the trees above my head as I perform my daily barn chores. I don't know who enjoys who more. Me watching them or them watching me. The phoebes at the house and the phoebes at the barn, the Carolina Wrens at the house and the Carolina Wrens at the barn. We all feel safe in each others company.
As I went in search of the Ruffed Grouse I heard near the house this morning, I stepped out the back door. I felt a little like Snow White as I was surrounded by a whirlwind of bird activity. In front of me a Towhee did his little jig, jumping back and forth, in an effort to scratch up a meal. A Phoebe zipped in and hovered for an instant in front of me and then dropped to snag an insect before zipping back off around the side of the house. Two Pileated Woodpeckers were hanging on the trees at the edge of the property as they chortled and flirted with each other. Then in flew a Tufted Titmouse inspecting all the action to be sure there wasn't something it was missing. Just moments before, I was greeted outside the front door by a Carolina Wren. It seemed surprised to see me but not afraid of me at all. It's so nice to feel the earth coming alive again. "Fee-a-bee" in the morning and "Whip-poor-will" in the evening. How could anyone feel lonely when they're surrounded by all this? Not me. My summer residents have arrived. Hooray!!!
