Yellow Bird
During the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020 I was reminded of Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth. I couldn’t remember it all, but do recall
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:-
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
And so it was this weekend, as my garden (workshop) birds to-and-fro’d and I jotted and counted.
Blackbirds featured, as did Tree-Creeper and Nuthatch. So pleased to see a Bullfinch too, male – resplendent red – they do make the most beautiful sound, a gentle, soft calling tone.
All of it – the watching and the joy, inspired this Yellow Bird, a carving in Tadcaster Limestone.
4 Comments
What a beautiful Bird Watch-inspired Yellow Bird, Jennifer! We had Treecreepers in the wood at the end of our garden in South Wales, but rarely see them here in Suffolk. How wonderful to have a male Bullfinch: we very occasionally get a male and female together, when the blossom is out, but they are very shy and I have never heard their song. As for bird thoughts, well, I am always astonished at the speed of their bush-wire: we have only to put out new coconut fatballs and within seconds all the Bluetits, Great tits, Long-tailed tits seem to have spread the news, not forgetting the feisty Robin, who would rather have a coconut all to him/herself!
Thanks so much! The Bullfinch was a real treat – they started to visit here after I left the dock and Hogweed stems instead of clearing. I love your thoughts about the bush-wire – you’re so right. I think we give more signals that we think – I have a Robin with similar character, seems to spend more time protecting the food than enjoying it!
Just a further thought, Jennifer: there is clearly much ‘communication’ between birds of a feather e.g. a flock of Starlings, but I wonder how far the bush-wire spreads between species…
It is a very interesting further thought Caroline. Clearly birds are aware of other birds, their shapes and behaviours. To me it doesn’t stretch the imagination too far to think that sounds are understood too, or perhaps it is that sounds become synonymous with behaviours, or associated with an action. So many animals have symbiotic relationships with others – so yes, I think it does spread between species! I’m going to see if I can gather definite evidence of it – what have been your findings?