Jun 30, 201108:28 AM
Exploring the Beauty of Our Own Back Yard
Chickadee Visitors
It is a rite this time of year: I find myself evaluating the state of my less-than-perfectly-manicured yard, and, without fail, stand frozen for a moment or two, baffled by the fact that it is already June.
Next, I survey the plethora of weeds, or as I prefer to call them, “wild flowers,” that the bird bath rests amid. This is the point when I finally arrive at the conclusion that I’ve, once again, unknowingly fallen behind. I glance around to be sure, and note that just across the street, the pansies are purposefully potted, seemingly anchoring the ivy-wound mailbox post. And, as further proof of my landscaping malaise, at the Westernmost reaches of my yard, my gaze settles on a neighboring property owners’ custom-designed shade garden, accented meticulously by a tapestry of breathtaking annuals.
Needless to say, the discovery that a pair of birds was busy building a nest in a planter my husband had just mounted on the side of our house was met with a heavy sigh of relief. Anyone who knows me will tell you: A. I take tremendous joy in witnessing wildlife create and maintain their habitats; B. As a minimalist intrigued by xeriscape gardening, I become even more enthusiastic about this brand of brush with nature, if it means one less plant for me to remember to water and prune.
The fact that the planter – and home-in-the-making – could be viewed without obstruction from our living room window, was the proverbial icing on the cake. My son became immediately enthralled by the display, which couldn’t have come at a better time since he was learning about bird families in pre-school. He began anticipating the nestlings, while dutifully noting the materials – dried grasses, leaves, bark and twigs – being gathered and integrated into the construction. He was heard surmising aloud, declaring his prediction for when the clutch of eggs would be visible, and prodded me until I agreed to further our avian research to uncover the exact species the songsters belonged to.
Fortunately for me, I knew right where to begin our investigation, and headed straight for the “Birds & Birding” page on the Mass Audubon website. Here, we pored over the Breeding Bird Atlas, a compilation of data relating to all of the birds in a particular area or region. After much hypothesizing, and careful consideration paid to the differing species distinct characteristics, we revealed the identity of our new tenants: Black-Capped Chickadees.
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