Birds

Not long ago, we had the opportunity to walk through Berkeley.  I know, I know, it’s a crazy town.  It’s got some great shops though, coffee shops, donut shops, book shops….

We were all merrily walking down the street when a cat in the window of a pet shop caught our eye.  It didn’t look like a very happy or healthy cat, but it was the draw that took us inside. 

Once inside we were amused to see that there were only two cats and two rabbits in the entire shop, the rest of the occupants were birds.  Birds of every size, color, and price!  They were chirping and singing and hollering!

There were some with incredible markings and colors; others had these weird hairdos that made us laugh.  There were so many in each cage though, it seemed a bit crowded and not very happy overall.

When we got home, I smiled at the fact that we are bird owners too.  We own a flock of about a dozen mourning doves, several dozen yellow finches, a half-dozen nut-hatches, a couple of blue jays and a husband/wife couple of red-headed woodpeckers.  I know we have an owl or two also, because I can hear them in the early morning who-whoing.

Our birds are lively and hungry and funny.  We love watching them and their antics.  The finches really like the thistle seed sock and will fight and squawk to get position on the bottom where the seed is abundant.  They start out on the top and then work their way down – it’s pretty funny.  The doves like to eat hearty and then sit around all fluffed-up for the day.  They either sit on the ground, which we think is kinda risky with all the cats around, or they sit on the deck rail where it’s easier for us to watch them commiserate about the food or weather.

Our happy, free birds make me smile….everyday!

J