Before the ‘bird thing’ happened to me, I was unaware of the noun, ‘birder’ and the verb ‘bird’ (as in, ‘to bird’ – you know, ‘birding’). I’d heard of bird watchers, of course, who were sometimes pictured on television, wearing strange safari-type hats, carrying binoculars and cameras, and whispering David Attenborough phrases.
I didn’t really notice these peculiar people with their bird-feeders and their bird baths; I didn’t notice the birds either until, like I said, the ‘bird thing’ happened to me. I think it was the peacocks that did it for me – I absolutely loved the sensation of being able to feed them by hand, and the rest, well the blog tells it all.
However, I am not really a birder yet, in the true sense of the word, because all of our many birds are domesticated. Real birders admire, and take brilliant photos of, the wild birds, and that is something I have a new respect for, thanks to these two incredible bloggers:
http://bobzeller.wordpress.com/http://
http://tootlepedal.wordpress.com/
If it hadn’t been for these guys I would never have noticed how many beautiful wild birds live on our farm, and I would never have bought a better camera!
Noun: Bob Zellar
Verb: Tootlepedal
King peacock: I’m a noun too, you know! If you want a verb, see Queenie….
I just love ‘the bird thing’! I’m going to get heaps of bird feeders tomorrow on my way back to the farm. This is NOT peculiar!
jmgoyder 
Thanks for the shout-out, Julia. I appreciate it very much. 🙂
When I get back to the farm tomorrow I am going to try and take a photo of our blue wrens – wish me luck! You are an inspiration, Bob.
Hi,
Thank You for putting in the links, I had a look at there certainly are some great bird photos.
Peacocks are so beautiful, they are in a class of their own I feel. 🙂
You are very kind. I never looked at birds carefully until about two years ago and although I am certainly not a birder (you have to be prepared to stand on a beach or in a swamp for three days to be one of those), I certainly do like looking at them now. They are so beautiful that it’s worth any time spent.
I hope your feeders bring you joy.
You inspire me even though you’re not (technically) a birder!
They are great aren’t they? 🙂
The best – I adore them!
Just told Bob we need a Peacock… he said: “No we don’t!” very emphatically. Hey, I tried. 😉
Just get one anyway – you can say it just flew in!
Dear juli,
Have you heard of the American activist author Barbara Kingsolver? Her book “Prodigal Summer” is a must read for you and is about the killing of kyotes in the American South and also the use of insecticides in farming. You must somehow convert this blog into a novel of bird redemption.
Dan
Thanks, Dan
I’ll have a look for that book and your advice to convert blog to a book inspires me!
Love Julie
I so get the nouns and the verbs. In my community we have every February what is called The Backyard Bird Count,
Its a fabulous way to learn about our wild feathered friends and to meet others who are like minded.
Thought you might be interested.
http://www.bend.wbu.com/content/show/33185
Thanks – I will check it out!
No! Not peculiar in the least 😉
Ok!