Kathy and I can find hardly anything finer than sipping hot coffee in the cool of our backyard, early on a summer morning. The sun is just rising over the Santa Catalinas behind us, and its intense rays are just beginning to illuminate our back wall in front of the wash. Birds appear first at the tops of trees and ocotillo branches, soaking in the warmth of the first rays off the sun after a cooler night. A single brave bird lands on our feeder. Soon, it is mobbed with hungry birds that have not eaten through the evening hours.
As far back as I can remember, we have fed wild birds. Here in Tucson, I have experimented with a number of food stuffs and seed mixtures. Each bring different birds and bird quantities. Lately we have been offering fresh oranges, suet, and no seed. This combination seems to minimize the gambel quail, mourning doves and white wing doves. These species still arrive each day, but thankfully, not by the hundreds. We also typically feed the hummingbird population. There are many species of hummers here in the area at different times of the year. Occasionally a hawk will arrive on the scene, trying to grab a slow flying bird for breakfast. Sometimes, it gets one. Whenever you see all the birds scatter quickly, leaving a birdless landscape, you can bet one of the hawks are nearby. In the Spring, all the birds arrive paired up, and soon babies show up with their parents learning the game.
Mammals such as mule deer, javelina, coyotes, bobcats, rabbits and round tailed squirrels inhabit the wash behind our house. All of these we have seen from time to time, but the real daily drama is performed by the birds.
Sitting with coffee watching all of this is one of our favorite activities.
No comments:
Post a Comment