Dear Reader,
The book club has gone to the birds and I couldn't be more thrilled! Apparently you're enjoying the bird stories, too. Because readers sharing stories about their bird encounters has been the most popular topic we've ever had at the book club. And I can see why, because as I'm writing this morning, I hear two new red-bellied woodpeckers out in our old oak tree. The 'apartment' in the old oak tree just became vacant when four young woodpeckers flew off on their own. And now it looks like another newlywed couple will be moving in and starting their own family. I'm very excited and I'm keeping my binoculars close by.
Over the next two days I'll continue sharing readers' bird stories and even some heart warming photos. (The link is at the end of today's column.) If you haven't sent me your bird story, I'd love to read it. Email me at: [email protected]
(Your story might be just the thing to expand on and save for this year's annual Write a DearReader Contest in September.)
"We have a wren that comes back every year, and builds a nest in two bird houses we have hanging from the gutters of the house. When the nests are finished the hard work starts, finding the right mate. The male spends hours singing from the top of our umbrella cover looking for the right partner. The funny thing is, when he finds his partner and she inspects the nests and picks one to start her family, she throws everything out of the house and rebuilds it to her satisfaction. My friend always says if you want something done right don't ask your husband. Sounds like birds feel the same way. Thanks for letting me share my bird story." -- Joanne S.
"My bird story is a little different. We have lots of birds who return every year to build their nests in the same spots. They are always so quick and efficient at building a solid nest. It was a shock to me when I went out to bring in my laundry from the clothesline, that I hung that morning, only to discover the clothes were on the ground. Apparently the birds like my clothesline for building their nest and managed to shred it apart!" -- Maria K.
"Suzanne, I had to Google if a chicken was a bird, and the answer was yes! Every spring we would get a delivery of 100 baby chicks which we would nurture in the basement under warm lights until the weather warmed up for the outdoor chicken coop. I developed a close relationship with a beautiful Cornish hen who had a malformed leg. This bird followed me everywhere from morning until night, perching on my handlebars, shoulder, or sitting next to me on the tractor seat. It was a beautiful love story to behold. I would sometimes spend the night in the coop cuddled to my forever friend. The neighbors would love to give us rides on haystack carts to show us off.
As some love stories don't have happy endings, this is the doomed story of my first love. One morning as I raced out the door to begin my day, I was greeted with mass carnage. A fox had obliterated the whole stock of laying hens. Even in death, my beloved Hennie was beautiful. We had a tender burial with over 100 mourners. I still remember the softness of her feathers and feel her gentle beak of a kiss in my dreams." -- Alice S.
To read more stories and see photos of the birds, click here.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
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