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Backyard Bird Feeding A Family Tradition
I never thought that it would the squirrels preferred become grandfather-grandchild the bounty on the ground tradition; but that’s exactly what b y L A R R Y G R I M A L D I rather than attempting to has happened over the last 15 climb the poles. Feeding years or so. It all began simply the birds became a ritual enough when I hung a few bird when the twins came to feeders on farmers hooks in our between us that cannot be described. I visit and it cultivated a yard. My backyard bird watching still revel in those memories. bond between us that still was enhanced by gifts of a book brings a smile to my face. that identified the type of birds that were likely to visit A few years later, the next link in the bird feeder the feeders and binoculars to observe my newfound tradition was passed onto the twins’ brother Nicholas winged friends at a distance so as not to scare them when he reached the age of about three. His initial off. In addition to the standard wild bird food blend, efforts at filling the feeding stations mirrored those I also purchased a special feeder and seed to attract of his sisters. But after a few tries, he became more goldfinches. My last chore was to devise a defensive skilled and began to look forward to the task on his strategy to keep those ever-pesky neighborhood squir- visits to our house. rels from climbing the poles to raid the feeders. PeriOn a recent visit from New Jersey, Benjamin Jr., odic applications of a non-stick kitchen spray or Vase- now age four, offered to help feed the birds. While he line to the poles worked well. Feeders stocked with did prove to be a bit more accurate at the task, spilling food, and armed with a full color illustrated guide of less seed on the ground than his three predecessors, the local avian population, I was ready to enjoy my Benjamin, Jr. still managed to leave a generous food new hobby. supply under the feeders. The squirrels and the less Over the years, I have spotted locally popular spe- ambitious avian populations were no doubt grateful cies such as blue jays, cardinals, wrens, sparrows, for their bounty. crows, chickadees, nuthatches, starlings, orioles, Benjamin’s sister Lorelai has yet to join the crowd. robins, and even a few finches at the feasting on site. However, she is just a year old and not quite ready to Often, The wail of mourning doves and the rat-tat-tat join the feeding brigade. I have no doubt that when of woodpeckers could be heard outside my bedroom she reaches age three or so, Lorelai will be tutored window. With limited success, my wife has tried to in the art of bird banqueting by her brother and older lure hummingbirds to her flower garden feeders. cousins. When my twin granddaughters Kailyn and Sophia Like most families, our traditions are celebrated were about three, (Now college sophomores as a at holidays, birthdays, graduations and other events. write this column), they saw me filling the bird feed- Some of our traditions, like gathering together for ers. Of course, they offered to “help.” Who can re- Sunday dinner when we have the chance, are rooted fuse a request of a youngster with curiosity in their in our cultural background. I believe that family tradieyes, enthusiasm in their hearts, and a sincere desire to tions are a bridge from the past to the present. Still “help?” I knew that I couldn’t. That was the beginning others create new bridges. In many cases, the opporof a new family tradition. tunities to create traditions are right under our nose, I tried to teach to teach the twins how to fill the feed- but we don’t see then because they are so simple and ers without pouring too much seed on the ground. De- obvious. Gratefully, feeding the birds with my grandspite some success, but I’m sure that the lazier or more children was a joyous opportunity to create a new traclever winged scavengers quickly discovered that it dition that I didn’t miss. was easier to pluck seeds from the ground than to fight for a spot on the feeders. The spilled feed also proved Larry Grimaldi is a freelance writer from North to be an effective deterrent to squirrels who might Providence. Comments can be e-mailed to lvgrimalotherwise try to climb the feeder poles. Many times, di49@gmail.com.
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