John, I found your conclusions of your research interesting, particularly the statement that most of us only have time to go birding on the weekends. Well, I think that depends on your definition of what “going birding” is. While I occassionally have the opportunity to hike local trails, those don’t come every weekend ( a pleasure that may have to wait til my own nest is empty!). But does that mean I don’t go birding? Nope. When I’m walking the dog, I don’t mind if he has to stop and sniff and pee every single tree, because while his head is turned down, mine is turned up…. when I’m on my way to work, as I cross the marsh on route 207, I am looking for the sparrow hawk who often is on the telephone line, looking down at the marsh. And of course the egrets and ibis are now there…. and in the last few months both my husband and I have seen a bald eagle. Then when I get to work, many of us have window feeders and have an established group of customers. No exotic species mind you, but they are a cheerful part of our day.

And then when I get home… this time of year gardening chores (pleasures to me) are never ending. Through out my yard and garden spots I have several different feeding stations with different offerings, and birdbaths in different places. Some of the stations and baths are closer to the open, some back in amongst the trees for the comfort of the timider ones. I pull a few weeds, fill a bath, do a litlle edging, replenish some seed….gradually they become accustomed to my continued presence and eat and take their baths within just a few feet of me.

As far as this weekend goes, this morning my patience was at least partially rewarded. I’ve had hummingbird food and oranges out for 2 weeks with no custmers! So this morning I’m on the sunporch with my cup of coffee, folding laundry, and I finally see a little hummer. It’s perched in a small tree, not close enough to see if its a male or female, but its there. Then a little bit later on my daughter calls out to say she sees one in the PJM’s at the front of the house Its gone when I get there.. but at the end of the afternoon, I saw the female at one of the hummer stations out back, and a little later, the male at the station out front. He was feeding quite viorously and seemed undetered by my presence close to the window.

Now that the hummers are here I am hoping those orioles are close behind! But right now its gusting and raining.. not exactly a good night for those migrators Oh well. At least the chipmunk won’t let those oranges go to waste.