Things I am learning from the birds in my backyard

Things I am learning from the birds in my backyard

Dr. Larry Taylor

24 July 2008

I’m blessed to live in a home on an acre and a half of land with woods at the back of the property. I’m even more blessed to have a master gardener for a wife who has filled that acre with color. Kathy’s flowers (most of which she transplanted from her mother’s garden after the elder master gardener passed away) along with the dozen or so nesting boxes and feeders in our yard, and the three birdbaths, makes our backyard highly attractive to various species of birds. We even let the sunflower seeds that germinate under the feeders grow into avian-planted gardens, which produces more seeds and draws more birds. For a while, we were raising meal worms in a bucket of meal (what else?) to feed the blue birds, but there seem to be plenty of insects to keep them happy.

I know it sounds nerdy, but I’ve always liked birds and bird-watching. It’s in my blood. My parents were avid birders and took us kids on innumerable bird-watching outings led by ornithologists. We hiked mountains, tread carefully through swamps, wove through dense forests, forged streams, floated on boats in bays and oceans, estimated flocks, and focused our binoculars and telescopes towards sounds pointed out by leaders.

The other day, I made a cup of freshly roasted Asian single blend coffee in my Eva Solo coffee carafe, and sat in the early morning hours in the yard, listening to the Creator teach me a few lessons from the birds around me. Among them were:

Cardinals, from which I learn to be bright, cheerful, and to endure. Really no need to fly south each winter. Hang in there. Stick to it.

Blue jays sound the warning of impending danger to others.

The Robin who nests each spring above our front door and freaks out each time it opens or closes, reminds me to think ahead, not just take something because it looks good at first glance.

Eastern kingbirds are opportunistic. While most other birds hide in the woods, the kingbirds follow me on my lawn tractor because the tractor stirs up insects, which they then swoop down and gobble up. From them I am learning to be more entrepreneurial, to take more risks.

White breasted nuthatches remind me that sometimes you need to be upside down to get the best seed. This lesson applies to theology.

English (House) sparrows and Starlings are of the devil. Both species were imported from Europe by some well-meaning moron, and have proliferated and taken over America. Both can live anywhere, and both survive by killing the fledglings of other species and building their messy nests on the dead bodies of the victims. Genocide is bad. Some birds, like some people are just plain evil and incorrigible.

In a slightly different way, Cowbirds also present a negative lesson. They don’t murder directly like the House sparrows and Starlings, but they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, then, when the young hatch, they kick the legitimate fledglings to their deaths, and mom, because she’s not real smart, spends all her time feeding the huge cowbird as if it were her own. Be smart and be nice.

Song sparrows unfortunately look a lot like House sparrows and may be mistaken for them, but they sing beautifully and have none of their European cousin's vile habits. Don’t judge by appearance. Look deeper.

Bluebirds are our favorite. We have several families that raise three or four broods per season ever since Kathy rescued two fledglings from the devil birds, and hand-nursed them back to nature. One still nests here. We know it’s Pippin because he would sit on Kathy’s head if she let him. From them, I am learning to be gentle and kind.

Downey woodpeckers and their larger cousins Hairy woodpeckers don’t bother anybody or anything, they just merrily drill the dead trees for bugs and eat the suet I put out for them. From the woodpeckers, I learn diligence.

Pileated woodpeckers are elusive and magnificent. They teach me the glory of God and make me wish I could see an Ivory-billed woodpecker because they look similar. The debate rages as to whether the latter are extinct. Whether extinct or very rare, they shout a lesson of environmental stewardship to me.

Morning doves mate for life. If one mate dies, the other remains celibate and single. True love. My commitment to Kathy.

Yellow-shafted Flickers and Redheaded woodpeckers are skittish, flying off if I make noise or move fast. I am learning not to be paranoid.

Tufted titmice are happy little guys who seem to be in heaven among the flowers. I wouldn’t mind being like them.

Barn swallows are diligent also, swooping, and working for every flying insect they catch on the fly, and, unlike most other birds, refusing to take any crap from the House sparrows or starlings. Let one of them try to attack a swallow’s nest, and he’ll wish he hadn’t. I’m pretty much of a pacifist, but sometimes you need the Marines.

House wrens also won’t take any guff. Tough little dudes. They will be more gentle in the kingdom.

Swainson’s hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Perigean falcons, and American kestrels are of course predators. Once we found a baby Purple finch in our garage. Since I used to help band birds for study, I know how to handle them so they don’t hurt themselves, so I caught him and set him free. He fluttered off a few feet just in time for a hawk to swoop in and nail him for lunch. Kathy cried. From the hawks I learn that nature is not always kind and there is much in creation I do not understand. I believe, however, that Jesus is coming again to resurrect the dead and redeem all nature, and when he does, hawks won’t eat baby songbirds.

There’s nothing quite a cheerful as the Meadowlarks singing in the fields that surround our house. From them, I am learning praise.

Redwing blackbirds like to sit on corn stalks, catch insects, and visit the feeders for seed as well. They are versatile.

Common Grackles stick together in flocks. There’s strength in numbers.

Goldfinch are brilliant, and fly in a wave rather than a straight line. You don’t have to do things just like everyone else. If you want to bob and weave, go for it.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are like little dogs -- they don’t know they are tiny and will attack anything. They spend more time chasing each other than actually feeding. Jealously and defensiveness are counterproductive.

Canadian geese, Mallards, and American coot don’t actually visit our yard, but they do frequent the pond nearby and often fly low over head. The geese, of course, mark the seasons with their V-shaped migrations and loud honking. They trumpet change.

Turkey vultures are ugly and feed on dead stuff. It’s a dirty job, but beneficial and somebody has to do it. There’s dignity in lowly work and beauty inside is what matters.

The Purple finch bring color and beauty while minding their own business.

Indigo buntings are a treat because you only see them occasionally. Their royal purple color reminds me of the kingship of my Lord.

Carolina wrens and the various species of migrating Warblers sing praises way beyond their sizes and add beauty everywhere they go. They comprise an angelic chorus.

The rare Blue grosbeak is subtle, easily overlooked, but profound for its rarity. The queen of England once remarked after church that there were few good preachers, to which her husband replied, “My dear, there are few good anything.” I want to offer excellence to my God.

Brown thrashers and Wood thrush are almost never heard. Very quiet, introverted, shy, yet soft and lovely. May I find the beauty hidden in others.

Time for another cup of coffee.

©2008 Lawrence Russell Taylor, PhD