However, the birds have been angering me of late. Frankly, they're needy and rude - not taking into account my feelings or appreciating my efforts to make their lives better at all.
- A few years ago I purchased a lovely hummingbird feeder to replace my cheeky plastic red one. The new one is really lovely. I purchased it at a bird store in Indianapolis. It's purple and has a lovely disk shape with elegant detailing and a perch for the birds to sit while they eat. I brought it home, threw out the old one and waited for the hummingbirds to come. I thought there would surely now be more hummingbirds than ever as word spread throughout bird land of the new and superior feeder that was hanging over by the little yellow house. I figured I might have to purchase a few more of them so that fights would not break out amongst these charming, yet territorial, feathered creatures. But they did not come. In fact, the ones that had been visiting ceased feeding at our house at all. Finally, last year I went and bought a $3 el-cheapo hummingbird feeder that was red and plastic and stupid looking just to see what happened. Within minutes the hummingbirds returned. All manner of hummingbirds descended on that grotesque red feeder. I am beside myself. I don't even know if I want them around if they're going to act like that.
- Ah, the gold finches, with their sweet songs and enchanting head movements. They love my gold-finch-feeder. They really do. I filled that baby up at the beginning of spring and they immediately came and ate. And ate. And ate. They ate like crazy. Until the feeder was only a quarter full. And then they stopped. No more finches. I wondered what happened. I thought maybe they were all busy having their babies and would return in a few weeks. Or maybe a terrible bird tragedy had befallen them like those birds in the south last year. Were they dropping dead out of the sky? I worried about my little finches. I decided to fill the feeder again, even though there was clearly still plenty of food in it, just to see what happened. Again, within minutes they were back. All manner of gold finches, verily, every gold finch in the county it seemed was eating their fill. So, evidently they were all too good to eat the food at the bottom of the feeder? What? They want a full feeder or they won't eat? Who do these finches think they are? Shame on them.
- This final example is really the last nail in the coffin for me. I had read that birds like to eat where there is a water source so they can drink and bathe and be generally content. So this weekend I finally purchased a bird bath. Just a silly cheapy one but I think it looks kinda cute. I thought it would be the final installment in my bird-paradise-back-yard, and I knew the birds would love me for it. But I also have these little candle holders on posts in my flower beds. The idea is that they can hold citronella candles but in reality all they do is collect rain water since we never put candles in them. They are a few feet away from my new bird swimming pool. And yesterday, I watched a bird reject the bird bath only to land on the edge of one of the candle/water holders. It took a drink, which was cute so I almost forgave it. And then. Then this bawdy little bird turned around, placed its little tail feathers in the water (which was still kind of cute) AND POOPED IN MY CANDLE HOLDER. I SAW THE POOP FLOAT DOWN THROUGH THE WATER. And then it flew away. I have now attached signs to each of the candle holders informing these foul fowl that these are NOT birdy bidets. Okay, I haven't actually done that but I am incensed, downright offended. These birds show no respect.
