Birds of a Feather

Birds have always fascinated me.   I love to watch them as they make their nest and plan a place for their young.   In the past we have hosted a family of wrens in a front door wreath.   We were able to peer through the storm door, monitoring daily antics and growth of the babies.   All this with the minor inconvenience of marking our front entrance with "crime scene tape" directing all visitors to the family room entrance on the side of the house.    Our grandchildren found it fascinating too.    I doubted if we would ever have such an up close and personal opportunity again.

This year a cardinal couple decided on the rose bush just outside our bedroom window.   Another chance to watch without disturbing our bird family.   We named them Red and Ellen.   I marvel at how they knitted bits and pieces of plastic into the nest weathering proofing it nicely.   Well the eggs were laid and kept safe and warm by Mom.   The frantic weeks of keeping their ever seeking beaks fed have past and the birds have flow, the nest now empty.

A lovely Japanese maple grows just outside our screened porch and it seems the perfect location for a private bird sanctuary.   I relocated the bird feeder from the far end of the garden and purchased a second to accommodate safflower seeds in addition to sunflower seeds, variety is the spice of life and also added a watering source.  Then I thought, why not hummingbirds (I've never been successful attracting hummingbirds).   I bought a colorful disc feeder and hung it nearby near a bright orange tropical hanging basket and filled a beautiful handmade feeder, a gift from a friend from Arizona with homemade nectar.  It is a truly a lovely piece of art; but, the artist chose soft colors of yellow and brown, not conducive for drawing hummingbirds. So I have added a big red ribbon to the top with hopes that will be enough to attract them.   

Our little sanctuary is thriving with birds: cardinals, blue birds, wrens, some I need to identify and a few unwelcome crows; but, still no hummingbirds.   

Maybe tomorrow.