Bird Watching
We first started watching birds about 6 years ago when I was recovering from a neck injury. I sat all day in front of a picture window and watched the "Best BirdShow in Town" right in our front yard. Now we have two pair of binoculars, ten bird feeders, six bird houses, a couple of bird baths, and buy seed in 50 lb. bags.
We really enjoy watching and identifying local and migrating birds. We have had occasion to see the Painted Bunting (pair) two times, and the Indigo Bunting once. Two years ago, Linda and I saw a (don't laugh) Bumblebee Hummingbird, two days in a row. I nearly had a stroke - we observed it, and even tried contacting local bird authorities ... not ONE of them was the least bit interested. I feel it was quite a rare, one time only sighting. It looked like a bumblebee, with the hummingbird beak, and two droopy antennae, but twice the size of the bumblebee. I was standing two feet away from it on the first sighting. I think it was from Central America (or Cuba), rarely seen in Texas.
We have a 4 year old Cockatiel named Buster (was supposed to be a male). This bird is like one of the family, and loves us in so many different ways, it would be hard to list them. She puts her head down and snuggles up against your cheek; takes naps under your chin; sits on my foot while I shave; takes showers with us - and oh, yes ... makes little messes once in a while. Birds are very messy, and spill their feed, and get feathers on the floor, and make noises a lot, but with a little extra effort and cleaning, a person can really enjoy the love of a bird just as much as a fine dog, cat, or whatever. Give it a try, you'll like it!
Update 17 December, 2002: We sold our old country house last year, and now live in a retirement community, with few responsibilities ... Our Cockatiel (Buster) died about a year before we moved. We sure miss her, and are really struggling with the idea of getting another baby bird.
Look at these sites
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