The Big Yard: Notes from a Pajama Birdwatcher
August 8, 2023
The season’s first yellow warbler stops by the fountain for a drink on its way to Central America or even as far as northern South America. Then, a Lucy’s warbler in fresh plumage for the migration to coastal Mexico picks its way in through the chokecherry. Yesterday, the first orange-crowned warbler graced the yard with its sweet, down-slurred trills while passing through to Mexico after spending the summer in Alaska.
Birds on the move.
Just in the last couple of days, swarms of young hummingbirds crowd the feeders: lanky blackchins and motley broadbills and all the rufous-flanked juveniles—calliope, broadtail, and, yes, rufous (which could be Allen’s this time of year).
All are heading south to winter in Mexico. And the planet tilts under the weight of them.
Migration has its merits, I suppose, but I prefer to be rooted in place. This morning, I’m rooted to my chair on the back porch in front of the fountain and feeders. I admit, I feel Nature’s pull, this seasonal drive for a change of scenery. But in this place, we might see a landscape of white, green, brown, gray—and that’s just in a week! I get the migrants chasing chlorophyl and the long days of sunlight. I know the appeal.
But here, I’m happy to watch the world pass me by.
The human world wants to remind me of who I am. I know who I am. I want to believe that Nature shows me who I can be. But Nature isn’t a mirror.
She’s a window.
Thanks for visiting the Big Yard with me. More to come…
Hey there Ken!! What is happening with your pajamas these days. I haven't been in touch! The TWO hummers, one male, one female, have been slurping with intensity, and I am ashamed I haven't been doing much except watching them!! The 2 little buggers are enjoying an early morning breakfast, shoo anything else away, and if they could talk, or, better said, if I could hear what they're saying, I could spent the WHOLE days in my living room window. I can't say that I'm worried about you, since I watch and read your work, but it IS difficult to let go of the two hummers! They sit on THEIR side of the old, red hanger, and ignore any and all of the much larger birds who come, eat, come again, grow, talk, yell, and take off when needed, but return quickly. I could watch (and do) for hours. Since "we" are now pushing into summer, getting rained on, pushed over, and left without ways to determine who the smartest men and women birds around here could stop screaming, and let the hummers stay comfortable. At the same time, people here are shooting other people, slapping them, waiting for their dollars to come out of the stores, into their cars, and leave quickly. I don't think I've ever seen so much that turns terrible so often. Oh well, I do eat, rarely given terrible offers in the stores and the intense dollars for what's needed, even with the cost of Libby's dog food, never mind my own!! I'm sorry I've been set aside for the best choices (few) in the regular sense. Eat, drive, sleep, read, pet Libby, etc. and so on, so I will return to your side of of the world with better options and more conversation with you and your BIG YARD. Miss you, and regret my much more birds, so I will be more in touch!!! Stay well....don't eat too much!!! Lyn and Libby!!!
I have been heard from you, so I'm worried