Sparrow me the details
Tuesday June 09th 2009, 9:25 pm
Filed under: Wildlife

imgp7740We hung up the birdfeeder May 20th and waited for the birds to show up.

And they did not.

Maybe they were waiting for the raccoons to invite them to the party: Hey, look, we know this seedy joint.  It’s a real dive, but the chow is great.  C’mon in!

I woke up this morning to find the handle pulled straight up on the mini-trashcan, but with the new tape (next step: bungee cords) it was firmly keeping a lid on it.  And then, finally, this evening, a sparrow was darting around the porch, checking it out. But–but–guys! Isn’t that always how it is! You hear of a great new place, you finally go, and the health department or something shut the joint down already!

Crum.  It pecked uncertainly at the concrete next to the can.

Bird. The seed. It’s hanging, right up there above your beak, don’t you see it? You know? Where you fly?

Nope. It flitted hither and yarn like a knitter with a bad case of startitis.

imgp7757That did it. I’d been thinking about it for awhile.  There was a loose spot in a metal brace, part of the awning near where the feeder was hanging from; I tried to push some twine through the gap.  It wouldn’t go. I went back in the house, got a dpn that hadn’t been used on a sock in a long time, poked at it, and finally, got it cast on.

I looped that twine around the top of a small dead branch and hung it up there.  My thought was to give them something woodsy and comfortable for them to perch on and then make the jump over from.  Maybe they like to zigzag their way in, the way we’d seen some feeding their young.

Not three minutes later that sparrow, which I’d scared off, had come back and had found its way to it and another bird had flown straight to the feeder.  Three minutes.  After waiting nearly three weeks and getting, after that jay had been twirled off like a two-year-old on a carousel the first morning, not one single one.

All it took for the bird life to respond to food in plastic packaging was to add a little nature to the scenery in the restaurant. Who knew.


13 Comments so far
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You run a very classy joint. You even knit for your costumers.

Comment by Henya 06.10.09 @ 12:35 am

Birds! Gotta love ’em.
May you be rewarded with many happy hours of prime birdwatchin’ for your persistence in pleasin’ your picky eaters. 😉

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 06.10.09 @ 3:37 am

It’s 4 in the mawnin, and what on earth am I doing at the compooter? Tryin’ to thunk of a word. Ah! Got it! You know how it is with restaurants — gotta have AMBIENCE! Enjoy de boids.

Other fun:(I may have used this before, but I’m too tired to go look)

The Lord called to Adam and said, “It is time for you and Eve to begin the process of populating the earth, so I want you to kiss her.”

Adam answered, “Yes, Lord, but what is a ‘kiss’?”

The Lord gave a brief description to Adam, who then took Eve by the hand and led her to a nearby bush.

A few minutes later, Adam emerged and said, “Thank you, Lord. That was enjoyable.”

And the Lord replied, “Yes, Adam, I thought you might enjoy that. Now I’d like you to caress Eve.”

And Adam said, “What is ‘caress’?”

So the Lord again gave Adam a brief description and Adam went behind the bush with Eve.

Quite a few minutes later, Adam returned, smiling, and said, “Lord, that was even better than the kiss!”

And the Lord said, “You’ve done well, Adam. Now I want you to make love to Eve.”

And Adam asked, “What is ‘make love’ Lord?”

So the Lord again gave Adam directions and Adam went again to Eve behind the bush, but this time he reappeared in two seconds.

And Adam said, “Lord, what is a ‘headache’?”

Comment by Don Meyer 06.10.09 @ 3:58 am

Ambiance is everything! Glad birdy inspiration arrived.

Comment by Barbara-Kay 06.10.09 @ 5:22 am

Location, location, location! lol

I’m glad you were able to take advantage of your love of knitting to get the birds to come to your seedy joint (love the expression). You are a clever woman! 🙂

Comment by Suzanne 06.10.09 @ 5:54 am

Next thing you know the birds will be demanding a dinner show to go along with the seeds!

Comment by Jody M 06.10.09 @ 6:04 am

Love the comments as much as your post! Yes, your joint is both classy and seedy.

Comment by LynnM 06.10.09 @ 6:46 am

So glad the birds have found you. It only takes a few before you have so many more. Enjoy!!!!

Comment by Joan 06.10.09 @ 7:44 am

Thanks for the smile.

Comment by sherry in idaho 06.10.09 @ 8:03 am

What a thoughtful hostess, even to the birds!

Comment by Channon 06.10.09 @ 8:22 am

Food. It’s all in the presentation!

Comment by Carol 06.10.09 @ 9:12 am

Yup. Ambiance, it matters!

Comment by Ruth 06.10.09 @ 10:15 am

Ingenious. Now they’re going to be demanding dessert 😉

Comment by Alicia 06.11.09 @ 1:47 pm



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