Tuesday, January 31, 2012
FOR THE BIRDS
We have always had a fountain out here. Three or four over fifteen years at the other house.
They always draw the birds. We live in the desert after all. Water is scarce.
At the old house, the fountain was outside the front door. You could stand inside the entryway and watch them frolic and congregate. Or chase each other away.
In this new place, they already had a big three tier fountain set up. Not too well, actually. It tips some. We were going to right it but that hasn't happened in a year and a half, sooooo, not likely.
The important thing is that I keep it going all the time so that we can attract birds who come to bathe.
The little top tier is like a bathtub for a lot of them. They climb right in and flop and beat their wings. Against the south light it is spectacular. Water flies in all directions.
The water comes up and gooses them. I think that they love it. Great fun.
The dining area is set up so that it looks right at the fountain so while eating, sitting, reading, whatever, there is a great sideshow at all times.
A lot of birds are only there for a drink but the ones who bathe. What a show.
There are humming birds and a wide variety of other birds we don't know. Yellow, red, blue. Plain brown.
The biggest who hog the space are the mocking birds and the doves.
There aren't many doves right now. They are sitting "ducks" for raptors. We find little bunches of feathers from time to time. The dangers of the watering hole.
