Our House: A Little Bit of Bird Watching

I love birds… now.

When I was younger, I remember my mom and dad getting such a kick out of seeing this bird or that, and I have to admit, I didn’t get it.

But now, I do.

Maybe it’s just my age.

Maybe it’s because in my life at this point, I’ve had my share of heartache and struggles, and the simple joys of bird-watching invite peaceful thoughts.

Or maybe it’s because I live in the country with no sight of anyone else, so the birds are welcome company to me.

It’s probably a combination of all those things.

Whatever the reason, I sure do appreciate watching so many different kinds birds on our property these days.

We’ve have some Indigo Buntings nesting close to ‘Our House’ and this one is enjoying the view from the planter in front of the living room window in the front garden. Isn’t that blue so vibrant? I see him every day now, and he’s soooo beautiful!

I’m grateful that my husband is faithful in keeping the feeders full to keep them coming back as they teach their young families to eat at the same feeders.

The Rose-breasted Grossbeak and Oriole are dining together in this feeder in our back yard.

It’s so sweet how most male and female birds are committed to each other and their families, and willingly sacrifice themselves to deter a predator from getting to their nest of little loved ones.

Mama and Daddy Mourning Dove share the bridge over the water feature in our backyard landscaping.

Several birds visit the water feature throughout the day, either to get a drink or a dunk. This Robin enjoys the water… he actually went right in and fully bathed… water is an important element to have for attracting birds in your yard.

It’s remarkable how determined the birds work to build their nests, safe from the elements and from their enemies.

This little robin nestled safely on her nest that she and daddy robin built under the pergola on the front porch, is a very devoted mama, I’ve actually watched several times this week, as she dive-bombed a gopher that kept trying to come up on the porch!

I had no idea that ever since our cat disappeared the robins would take over and keep the gophers at bay!

I didn’t catch it on the camera, but the hummingbirds are loving the sweet nectar of these bergenias that are blooming in the back garden by the water feature.

When watching the wild birds in our yard, I frequently think of the Bible verse in Matthew 6:26, where Jesus says: “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”

Love that verse and the comforting reminder that we are so very precious to our heavenly Father.

All of these pictures were taken of our yard… most were actually taken from inside the house looking out the windows… I’d see a bird and run for my camera… I missed several photo opps because by the time I got back with camera in hand, it’d be gone… and I did get a lot of fuzzy pics… sorry, but it was actually really difficult photographing birds, it’s not like a room that sits still and you don’t feel the pressure to hurry up and snap or the subject is going to fly away.

But it was fun!

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the birds from our yard I spotted this week.