Colorado is experiencing a drought after a winter of little snow and a hot, dry summer. I’ve kept a birdbath in the backyard since spring to give the birds a reprieve from the weather conditions. I delighted in watching a robin take a bath earlier in the season, and now it’s a full-on robinpalooza in my backyard.
My little bird bath has become the talk of the town among the robins. I counted over a dozen birds on or around it this morning, and at one point, at least nine were sipping the water at the same time. All this activity has captured my cat’s attention and mine. Every time I’m at the kitchen sink or by our bathroom sink, I can look out to see who is at the bath. Whenever I walk onto the deck for a closer look, the robins scatter, so I had to take the video (zoomed in) from the bathroom window.
Scattering the robins allows the smaller birds to come in and grab a quick sip. The nuthatches are the bravest and will try to squeeze in even when a robin or two is still in the vicinity. The dark-eyed juncos and song sparrows wait until the robins are farther away. A northern flicker has made a few appearances as well.
I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m nearing 50 and bird-watching is a rite of passage at midlife, or because I’ve finally slowed down enough to notice, but I’ve found great joy in watching birds. There’s so much activity to witness if you pause long enough to pay attention. I’ve become so interested in the world of birds that I’ve signed up for a bird-watching outing with the local Audubon Society this weekend. The bonus is that it’s in an area I’ve never explored before. I love finding new places to hike off the beaten path.
The male hummingbirds have mostly left the area, but several female broad-tailed hummingbirds still frequent the feeders and flowers. A calliope hummingbird even stopped by. They occasionally flutter close by, which I like to think is them saying “thank you” for providing them with food sources all season. They seem curious about the cats, who are only allowed to hang out with me on the deck if they behave themselves. I remind the cats that the hummingbirds are our friends, and if they get that look in their eyes that they’re thinking of pouncing, they go inside.
I know the hummingbirds will leave soon, but I take comfort in knowing that some birds will stay year-round. The mountain chickadees and Townsend’s solitaires (who sing so beautifully) will keep me entertained through the cold months. In the meantime, I’ll keep the bird bath full of clean water for these thirsty robins!
