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15_the_circle) wrote2005-09-10 01:30 pm
showering the birds
[OT from cottage renovations]
the damnedest thing just happened. I spent half an hour showering a half dozen wild birds.
it hasn't rained in a while and things have been getting a bit dry lately so I've been trying to remember to water the dogwoods and hydrangeas every couple of days: the dogwoods in order to keep them from weakening and becoming even more susceptible to anthracnose blight and the hydrangeas because they get so droopy and sad looking. most of the other vegetation is pretty much on its own -- the damn deer have eaten most anything that flowers anyway.
so I was out on the back deck, standing pretty still and wielding a garden hose when I noticed that a male cardinal had flown into the branches of one of the dogwoods and was eyeing the stream. he then hopped along the branch and positioned himself in the spray and with no evident concern for my proximity (I was within 3 ft of him) proceeded to take a shower, waving his wings around and dancing on the branch while chirping in a very cheerful sounding way. this went on for a while and I was so wrapped up in his enjoyment of the chance to splash about on the branch that I didn't immediately realize that he had been joined by a chickadee who observed the proceedings for a short time and then got in on the fun on another nearby branch. the chickadee was having an equally good time and at one point stopped and looked right at me and let out a fricative peep. I realized that he wanted more of the water to be directed onto him so I obliged, moving the hose slightly to give him a bit more of the stream. this must have been his wish because he didn't fly away but remained in place, continuing to prance in the water.
the cardinal was still on his branch and had taken on so much water that he was starting to look rather bedraggled. he then flew across the road onto the utility pole and preened his plumage into good array, singing all the while. in addition to the chickadee, a sparrow came and followed the same ritual, as well as a juvenile female cardinal and another small bird that I didn't readily identify.
all in all this went on for about 30 minutes. I was fascinated at this interaction and could hardly tear myself away.
there's an abundance of birds around here but I have always considered them to be ambient and have never interacted with them directly, other than setting out a hummingbird feeder on the front porch and a thistle feeder in the back for the finches and chickadees. the birds will often drink from the pond but they don't bathe in it and I haven't put out a bird bath on the grounds that its users might be distracted in it and thereby create more of a predatory opportunity for the cats than I would like.
even though I don't have one, a bird bath I can understand.
but a bird shower?
with a human attendant?
that's certainly a new one for me.