Friday, July 19, 2013

BIRDS MATTER


The songs and colors of birds fascinate me.  I enjoy watching ruby-throated hummingbirds drinking nectar at a feeder.  Their acrobatic dances and wings rotating like helicopters amaze me.

Birds inspire poets and wordsmiths.  One of my favorite poems is:  "Be Like the Bird," by Victor Hugo:

Be like the bird who
Halting in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him,
Yet sings
Knowing he hath wings.

The lovely songs of birds also inspire composers.  I love the hymn, "On the Wings of a Dove."  Another favorite is, "I'll Fly Away."

Our feathered friends also inspire painters, craftspeople, and photographers.  Quilters even create patterns after birds such as:  "Turkey Track," "Ducks and Ducklings," and "Flying Swallows."

I know my blogger friends who are very talented, can add other quilt patterns created after birds.

Besides inspiring quilters and artists, why do birds matter?

According to Nikki Belmonte, education coordinator, for the Atlanta Audubon Society, birds matter because:

They help disperse seed
They pollinate flowers
They clean-up dead animals
They are ecosystem engineers
They help control pests and insects
They indicate what's happening in the nature world

What can we do to attract birds?

Birds must have food, water, shelter, and nest sites.  Many of my blogger friends have bird feeders and take beautiful photos of birds.

These are great ways to provide sources of enjoyment and important connections with the natural world.

Birds Matter!







10 comments:

Susie Swanson said...

I love this Brenda The bird photos are so beautiful. I have several feeders in my yard and enjoy watching them so much. Many Robins have builts nests in my bushes and in the trees this year. I love watching them all flock in when it's going to snow in the winter. That's when it's so hard to keep the the feeders full but I can't stand the thoughts of them going hungry.. Thank you for sharing.

magnoliasntea said...

Awesome bird photos! Bluebirds are my favorite.
Your blog is awesome, also.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great post, Brenda... You know how much I love my backyard birds... The best part is seeing the little ones come to the feeders for the first time. YES---Birds do Matter...

Hugs,
Betsy

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Yes they do matter, and they are so beautiful - a never ending source of wonder to me. I love seeing them outside my window. Loved the Victor Hugo poem, too. A good thing to remember when the branch gives way beneath us!

Connie said...

Lovely post, Brenda! Birds are a very important part of our world. They are beautiful, and I love to watch them too. "I'll Fly Away" is one of my favorite hymns too.

Connie Arnold said...

Yes, birds do matter. I love watching them! I enjoyed the poem, and those are two good songs. Lovely photos!

Anonymous said...

Amazing photos, Brenda. I am so happy to have wildlife/birds to watch in the woods in front of our new home. I enjoy their birdsong when the windows are open. Wishing you a lovely week.

lil red hen said...

We don't have many species of birds in our yard, but my favorite is the mockingbird, who can be heard singing in the night hours, especially when the moon is bright. We also have purple martins and rarely see a mosquito because the birds feed on them. So, these two are important to us.

Janet, said...

Beautiful thoughts and pictures. I love birds. They provide us with many hours of enjoyment.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Your post spoke right to my heart! I love birds of all kinds. So enjoyed reading your words!