We planted blue spruce trees on our front lawn, years ago. I really have no idea exactly when. That is the thing about time, it tends to confuse me.
Most times I am just trying to keep up with what it brings and enjoy the ride. This has been my motto for a while now. I used to fret about what, where, when, and of course how.
Age has brought about a change for which I am grateful. Those years of fretting about what I can and cannot change, are hopefully behind. I say that, as I laugh aloud.
I certainly still do have my moments. Ask My Hero (poor man). Mornings have me sitting at my window sipping coffee.
Sometimes I stand by my sink, as I wash dishes, usually from the night before (because I can) and watch the birds who made those blue spruce their homes. Lately, I have been watching a male, and a female cedar waxwings flit in and out of the trees. Those special birds have not been flying on this farm for years.
I get so excited when I see them that I shout for My Hero, he always comes running. Mourning doves coo their songs, while they sit on the wires that run along the gravel road. They sing for those birds that sing back.
There are three sets of mourning doves who nest in these trees. They are the first soothing sounds we hear in the morning, through the day and especially in the evenings. Those gentle birds soothe my heart with their singing.
Windows are wide open to let the bird sounds enter our home, sometimes mixed with the road gravel dust. It is worth it. I must say our township has done a wonderful job on our road.
The windows are open wider now and the bird sounds much louder. I must thank them for that. The three hummingbirds that drink from our feeder on the front step, take a sip and then go rest on the branches of the blue spruce.
The sun’s rays capture the emerald colour of the male hummingbird. He is so handsome, but it does not diminish the radiant beauty of the two females who share the feeder. One of them is tiny.
It may be offspring. How cool is that? Yesterday, I watched as a hawk (not sure what kind) flew over our house, so remarkably close to those Blue spruce nesting sites. Close to the Eastern bluebirds splashing in the water bowl.
My heart sank. My Hero shouted an alarm which raced through the open window. I watched as pin feathers floated from above his head.
There were three blackbirds pecking at the hawk’s head. There were no sounds heard. A silent attack, I suppose.
No, I have never seen that before. We do have a variety of hawks around here and birds do try to scare them off. I have never seen feathers scatter when this happens.
I also never thought that blackbirds would protect the birds in the Blue Spruce trees. Is there something going on that I do not understand? Blackbirds do have a bad reputation for robbing nests, then eating eggs and baby birds. They also inadvertently warn other birds about impending danger from hawks and such.
I have seen this firsthand. I have not seen any mother birds freaking out about something taking their eggs lately. Raccoons and squirrels do the same thing.
The real world in nature is not for the faint of heart. As I was saying, I watched three blackbirds peck feathers from a hawk above our house and close to the trees full of a variety of bird nests. I have never witnessed that before.
This had me thinking that if birds can protect other birds which are against their normal nature, why can’t we as humans, not take a lesson from that? I have always said that we can learn so much from nature, and I do believe this with all my heart. The biggest lessons I have learned about life have all come from observing nature. My assumption is that the blackbirds were protecting the trees full of those beautiful birds and nests, not for their own gain, but rather because it is the right thing, even though it may go against their nature.
Indeed, a lesson is in there somewhere. – Grace Vanderzande is a farmer and the author of a newly released book, Buttons Thoughts, Farm, Family and Folks. Also, her first book, Unbuttoned; Our Farming Life In South Eastern Ontario.
Ask for them at your favourite bookstores and libraries..
