Today at Iten's Acres: Bird Watching January 31, 2015

When I'm home on the weekends, I get a better view of my feathered friends. During the week they dine without me, and I doubt if I'm missed. Well, maybe those who feed off the ground miss me because on the weekends, I "cater" that area more than normal. Monday through Friday it's one serving scattered in the dark before I head for school. Weekends, they get several scatterings.
I must confess that a certain hierarchy of bird friends exist. I do play favorites when I'm home to enforce the "bye-laws." When I see those on the low end of the totem pole feeding, I step outside and send them fleeing into the country side. Who are the unwanted? Starlings and doves. And I think they know they are on the Go Away List. The Most Unwanted List. When I come outside, they go away--far away. The other birds must know the set-up as well. They barely pay any attention to me when I step outside. They watch the enemy flee and simply go right back to feeding. Sometimes I think they're waiting for me to do my thing so they have more room to feed. The chickadees and titmice--two of my favorites--ignore me completely. They just keep right on feeding as if I'm not there. Smarter bird brains I guess. I have a bunch of them this winter as well. Must be a dozen or so. The goldfinch in their winter dress-down garb usually come back fairly quickly to the thistle feeders--the starlings and doves don't feed on those anyway. The woodpeckers are fairly much Iten-proof as well. It doesn't take them long to go back to lunch. (It is a good thing we don't eat like the birds, you know. They eat all day long! I guess if we could fly we wouldn't gain weight by all day feasting.) The Cardinals are a little shy, but they beautify the feeders consistently most of the day. Blue jays as well. The other finches and sparrows are fairly active. The snow bird population has picked up considerably. Another favorite--like polka dots they hop their way around the feeders. The nuthatch aren't shy either.
My roommate isn't as prejudiced as I am. She could sit in the window all day in equal admiration of all our visitors. In fact, she may have a special fondness for the doves. I guess their size is enticing. I'm sure she would love to have them in for a snack. Ah well. She can't have everything. But don't tell her I said that . . . my life is already immersed in her daily opinions on everything. I need no more harassment.
Anyway, bird watching is one of my exhausting activities on the weekends. It's tough sitting there in the chair enjoying their antics and their beauty. Hey, I do have to get up once in awhile to chase the unwanted. (And for you critics out there, at least my most unwanted list is only two. There is no top ten.) Hmmm. I wonder if the birds consider us "wild life"? Topic for another day. I need to shift my position in the chair. Without disturbing the boss sleeping in my lap. Life can be so tough at times out here at The Acres. I don't know how I survive it.