Nature Notes: The Birds

Have you ever seen Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"?

I think I know where his inspiration came from. All of a sudden, all my little winged buddies want to come inside for ... what? To visit? To complain about the food? To tease the cat? To rent a friggin' room?

Goldfinches are monopolizing the hummingbird feeder, pecking on my kitchen window as if they expect me to let them in. And when that doesn't work ...



They try the living room windows ...



Where Gatsby waits patiently for a chance to pounce against the glass and leave nose prints all over.



Whenever we open the garage doors, barn swallows come swooping in and out. I made a brief effort to photograph them, but I didn't want to leave the door open and risk having a hummingbird fly in. They are the very devil to catch when they do that.

Last time I went into the potting shed, there was a sparrow in there, fluttering against the window. How it got in, or why, I haven't a clue. It flew out when I opened both doors. Lucky for her I needed a garden tool that day.

The birds here have never done this before. Well, except for the brainless little hummers who get stuck in the garage. So what's up? Should I be concerned?

P.S. Thanks for all your kind comments, suggestions and sympathy about my other, less welcome invader. We do plan to sit down and try to come to an arrangement with him about the mowing. I'll let you know how it goes.

Target practice is the main reason he's moving out here, so the firing range is not going to be negotiable. As far as I know, there's no law against it, and he certainly won't be the only one shooting up the place. We've always had to put up with the sound of gunfire. He'll just be really close, and shooting every day, and part of the woods will get cut down. ::Sigh::


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