I am sitting here watching the birds on the bannister fake each other out at the seed dish. When a blue jay landed on the porch last week I decided to try to put out food again. Last winter was a long learning process for me, novice bird hostess, to get it right in a different location in the trees.
Feeding birds is controversial, as is most interaction with wild species. But what a pleasure to see the pairs and flocks coming and going, choosing, interacting, singing and soaring. This new house porch is up in the rooftops of a small maritime village. I wondered if birds would visit. There are gardens hidden in the hilly town between houses, stairways, pathways and tight streets. Winter can't offer much here for them, I'd think, but here they are.
The blue jay brought a mate, then the starlings came, then the crows were patrolling and snooping and soaring past. The dish was knocked to the ground, I bungied it, that was turned over, I taped it down, the tape is loose, what to do? This morning those 2 starlings (I like them, they are beautiful and funny) ran the blue jay off, he ran them off, they all flew away and then the blue jay came back and ate quickly. A sparrow was running around the floor of the porch earlier.
How do these creatures orchestrate themselves? The blue jay comes in and calls, then eats, his/her mate shows up and he/she moves off to make room for it to have at the dish. The starlings come in a pair, too. Somehow they all interact and feed themselves and soar away in a dance of their own making. I am watching and waiting to see what happens next.
Inner rhythms, environmental conditions, population density, behavioral habits are all part of the feeding life cycle, the state of being for all creatures. I think we are interacting better with the butterflies and birds and our beloved pets these days than we are with humans we consider to be different or in conflict with our chosen pattern of beliefs or life styles. What balance to the extremes will emerge? Can we dance a dance of Life in a wellness that is beneficial to all? Can we move past struggle for nourishment and space? I am watching the birds to see how they do it here on my porch overlooking a peaceful bay near the cold Atlantic sea. I want my blue jay to be happy, secure, and well fed on my new porch.
