Sitting Behind the Eight Ball

For the Love of Birds

Slice of Life Post for May 6, 2025 by Barb Edler

Today is beautiful. The sun is shining, the temperature is perfect, and there are no annoying bugs to ruin this spectacular day. One of the best things about where I live is that I can sit out back and just enjoy the river view and the birds.

Our back yard is literally a bird haven. My husband spends a fortune buying bird feed, grape jelly and hummingbird nectar. Plus, he creates squirrel barriers to hinder them from thieving all the bird seed because being entertained by birds is a true joy. Of course, we enjoy watching squirrels, too, we just don’t want them to steal all the bird feed.

Notice how high above the bird feeders are in this contraption. The cone helps keep the squirrels from raiding the seeds.

Yesterday, we realized one of our favorite birds, the oriole, was using our lawn chairs for nesting material. I thought those chairs were getting strangely thin, and now I know why.

The culprit!
Yes, the chair is getting thin, thanks to the orioles.
Anyway, the whole ordeal inspired my shadoma poem. Thank you, Kim Johnson, for sharing this poetry format with me:)

cardinals
bluebirds, orioles
hummingbirds
flit and sing
we watch with delight until
one pulls our chair strings
Barb Edler Avatar

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Barb Edler
Hello, I am a retired English teacher. I live along the Mississippi River and enjoy watching birds, the river, and nature in general. Writing for me is a gateway to healing, and I love to wrestle words in hopes of capturing an emotion or image others may relate.
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7 responses to “For the Love of Birds”

  1. kimhaynesjohnson Avatar
    kimhaynesjohnson

    Barb, I’m so grateful for writing in community. I learned of that form from Margaret, and I have been using it lately for May poems. I love what you have done here to capture the antics of the birds that have such a humorous and purposeful mischief about their thievery. You make it all so fun. I love the oriole diet – – If I ever turn into a bird, I hope I’m an oriole because as much as I love hawks and eagles, I doubt I could kill a rabbit to eat. I like the orange and jelly of the oriole. This was fun reading!

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      Thanks, Kim!

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  2. Anita Ferreri Avatar
    Anita Ferreri

    Your bird filled yard sounds lovely and your poem captures the creative nesting that birds always do well. I too had never heard of this poem before Kim shared it; however, it is a great way to organize thoughts succinctly.

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  3. Fran Haley Avatar
    Fran Haley

    Barb, I saw “birds” and of course had to stop and savor! I never tire of watching them and listening to them. I felt for a moment I was in your backyard haven. Oh that oriole, pulling strings for its nest…it pulls on my heartstrings, too. Something so poignant in it. Your shadoma is lovely. Sorry about the thinning chairs, though!

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  4. Glenda Funk Avatar
    Glenda Funk

    Barb,

    I can think of worse fates for the chair than doing double duty as nesting material. That last poem line is perfect. Love your photos.

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  5. Glenda Funk Avatar
    Glenda Funk

    I also mean to add I must know about squirrel barriers as thieving squirrels are a problem for us.

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    1. Barb Edler Avatar
      Barb Edler

      I’ll have to get some details from Mark. I don’t know how he created the cones but he has a lot of them. I’m going to send you a photo through Messenger of the oriole I just captured.

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