The Dirty Delight of Bird Watching

Bird feeding is delightful with multiple feeders and baths that attract many species in small neighborhood locales. Colorful feathers and markings, as well as colorful antics, make the bird world a treat to observe. But one must be prepared to clean up to attract and enjoy birds.

Work is its own reward is true in the case of bird feeding. Clean multiple feeders and bird baths of all shapes and sizes can attract an abundance of bird species all year round.

Sparrows In the Bath

Sparrows, much maligned as a (too) common feathered species, are novelty bathers and water-diving delights to watch. They rival their running Nuthatch treemates in comedic antics, albeit in a watery way. Sparrows jump into, glide across, and neck dip in a bird bath. Keeping a perchable, at least two-inch deep bath ready for these unpretentious creatures can yield hours of entertainment. Place a variety of baths for these dippers and the beach fun grows.

Finches and Sparrows

Those flocking to the nearest tree feeder may include families of Goldfinches, and an occasional House Finch, which sports a reddish head. Finches of different colors readily share a feeder.

A pecking order does exist at feeders. It is an art known only to the participants, and it can provide lots of observational fun. The beautiful bright yellow (male) "goldfinch" enjoys a special feeder, one with feeding slits, rather than holes. They are slimly built birds, and the slits accommodate their smaller beaks, as well as discourage the larger Sparrows.

Finches are particular in their preference for tiny thistle sticks. Sparrows prefer larger morsels. When Sparrows are neglected with empty feeders, however, they will battle finches for a chance at the feed bag.

Finches are loyal to their own kind. Males generally come first to a feeder and constantly check their surroundings before calling their mates to join dinner. While the females (dull yellow, almost brown) get their portion, the males quietly sit on nearby branches as ever watchful guards.

It is helpful, and beneficial to the eye of the observer, to hang a finch feeder apart from those frequented by other species.

Keeping It Clean

Keeping feeders and baths clean makes taking up a close observation post a happier experience. Year-round hints for feeder and bath cleanliness include: (1) hang separate feeders; (2) frequently remove chunks from feeder bottoms; (3) fill baths to the rim daily; (4) frequently empty and scrub baths with warm water only; (5) observe delightedly from respectful distances.

Robins Are Rare and Morning Doves Coo

The spring-bringing Robin scouts out his main diet in ground grown soft from seasonal rainfall. When it comes to feeders, the Robin is a rare bird. He brings in spring, is seen unabashedly stripping the topsoil of earthworms, then takes a hideaway approach to the remainder of the year.

Morning Doves resemble pigeons. They are mostly ground feeders, looting the leftovers that drop from the feeders above. Slow and cumbersone, they take flight slowly and lowly, but their morning and evening coo-coo-coo is priceless.

Nuthatch Pairs and Downy Woodpecker Spares

Nuthatches are natural comics. They endlessly scoot up and down tree trunks looking for bugs and beetles in tree bark holes. And they make their own holes. They do this all very skillfully while upside down.

Nuthatches have long beaks and striking dark feathers that "cap" their heads. They usually appear in pairs and like to pick off munchies from hard block suets. The Downy Woodpecker has white speckles on his tail feathers. Unlike the Redheaded Woodpecker, whose head is all red, the Downy has a red patch on top of his noggin. He normally travels alone.

Even Cardinals Go

Cardinals and Blue Jays, superior in size to their finch, sparrow, nutty and woody cousins, consequently enjoy larger seeds, including kernals of field corn. They normally come in pairs and are a joy to spot. Their calls are very individual and easily distinguishable, as well as easily heard above the din of others.

Even the lofty Cardinal is a dirty bird. But he is one of many of a kind that represent a dirty little delight that can be heightened in enjoyment when cleanliness takes precedence in one's practical observations.