I have an interest in birds, and am, in fact, a life member of Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union.
I like birds. They are cheerful, often brightly colored bits of fluff that decorate our trees year around. Many migrate, so there is anticipation of their return each year that adds to the excitement of seeing them again on the bird bath or on a tree or feeder.
There is a fir just outside my computer desk window that is a reliable bird tree year around, a detail quickly learned by Andy and Dougy, my two smoke Persian kittens. For you who’ve followed their story, parenthetically, I note they turn nine months old April 1st, but back to the main thought: The kitten brothers are avid bird watchers!
I have no intention of letting the boys become outside or partly outside cats because of the dangers there of injury from animal or human encounters. Mosquitoes and other cats are potential disease hazards to the boys, too. They had a rough start in life as kittens, so I’m a bit over-protective of their health and safety. An ounce of prevention…!
The kittens aren’t without their window on the world. They are too small yet, possibly ever to look out the back door screen. (I have no idea how big they’ll grow.) That is a prime place, however, to view the outside world in relative safety. To that end, I set up a children’s chair that they can sit and stand on to view birds flying in to use a bird bath just outside the door. It has been a huge success!
View the video by clicking on the link below.
The kitten brothers like to watch birds.
This kitten brothers have a fan club that covers the world, yet their world is only as big as my apartment. I know they will live longer, happier lives as inside cats, getting their bird watching done looking out the windows and back door!
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It is my brother’s birthday today, March 23rd! Happy Birthday, Richard!
i’m a freakin bird maniac too…
Today starlings came!!!!! Spring is here it means :-)) they sound like a children rattle :-)) smart but quite mean…. they always scaring away my fave blackbirds 🙁
Sparrows, this little brats are fighting all the time
and buzzards making their nest very near and their very loud “tweeting” always makes me come to window and watch :-))
i only miss swallows…. when swallows come you know summer is near :-))
Interestingly enough, three of the birds you mention- starlings, House sparrows (I believe), and barn swallows (my guess)- can be found in North America. The House sparrows and starlings were introduced by idiots. The starlings were released in Central Park in the 1800s by a fellow who wanted to introduce birds mentioned in Shakespeare to the US. They are bullies and pests. The House sparrows come from a group captured in Egypt. They supposedly were introduced to take care of crop pests, but they actually ate seeds and grains instead of a small number of insects: Another ignorant, bad idea! When there were lots of horses, they’d survive on seeds in horse poop. Their numbers actually are dwindling, though they are still common. The barn swallow occurs all over the Northern Hemisphere, and is one of my favorite birds, too!