We
have everything such a bird could possibly require. A sheltered, quiet area
with small trees, plants and flowers. There is an appropriate ‘bath’ of water
in which any bird can have a wash, splash about or a paddle. We also have two
bird feeders in the small trees full of tasty treats and a larger feeder which
is full of bird food.
What
is the result of this attempt to seduce small, attractive birds into our
garden?
All
we have seen are several pigeons and a few seagulls.
I
guess we must put it down to the urban/seaside environment in which we live.
When we go walking or cycling through Stanley Park and on into the Fylde
countryside, then we do see a variety of small birds.
However,
if there are any ways that you know to encourage small birds into your garden,
please do
pass them on.
Blackpool,
however, is not without its attractive different birds, as the starlings show
us when they appear in formation over the piers. My poem for this blog is on
that theme:
The
Starlings
Come
with me down to the beach
to
hobble over the pebbles,
and
stand in our old age
under
a dusky canopy of fading light
watching the starlings
make a fearless rise heavenwards,
twisting, curling and diving
into the descending darkness –
hovering for a moment above the pier
then stretching across the whole sky
watching the starlings
make a fearless rise heavenwards,
twisting, curling and diving
into the descending darkness –
hovering for a moment above the pier
then stretching across the whole sky
and
recoiling
to
form a tight beating heart.
Unlike
the starlings, whose instincts are seen,
darting, halting, dipping, gliding
darting, halting, dipping, gliding
in
the solace of each moment;
our
dreams have been hidden,
yet
can be seen in our love,
how you plucked me out and kept me,
how you plucked me out and kept me,
how
often you helped me fly
in
the fifty years of formation;
hold
me now, old lady,
our lives will soon be forgotten
our lives will soon be forgotten
like the shell of the crumbling pier,
where
starlings roost after dark.
David Wilkinson
3 comments:
Have you detected any sign of small, attractive birds in neighbouring gardens? If yes, then the prognosis is good - you just need to out-tempt whatever is on offer in the locale. If, on the other hand, the area is generally bereft of small, attractive birds, then you might just have to lower your sights and settle for small plain ugly ones :-)
I enjoyed your Starlings poem, thought it was very good. Now if you were to install a bird table you'd soon have a garden full of starlings.
Do you have a cat? That puts birds off. Great picture accompanying your poem. I love a murmuration.
Decidedly downbeat.
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