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!
