Goldfinches, the Bluebird, and the Chipmunk

Goldfinches

A section of the trail I walk on is prime habitat for goldfinches. I could count on encountering goldfinches when I reached that section until about two months ago when they appeared to have vacated the area. I couldn't figure what environmental change had made the goldfinches move elsewhere, and I was bummed that they weren't there.

I don't know what happened, but goldfinches were everywhere when I came to that section of the trail today. I was so happy. The goldfinches usually keep their distance when I appear, but one couple (goldfinches are monogamous apparently) decided to reward me by perching on a bush next to the trail as I walked by. Both the female and male were magnificent wearing the finest goldfinch breeding plumage. This probably isn't correct, but I could swear the two were showing off for me.

The Bluebird

Bluebirds are easy to identify if one is close enough to them, but I've watched enough bluebirds to notice that they have a distinctive flight pattern. I can't describe this pattern, but I know it when I see it.

I was in the park where I end my walk when I spotted a small bird in the distance flying with that distinctive pattern. "That has to be a bluebird," I thought. I didn't expect to be able to verify my thought because my experience tells me that bluebirds avoid flying near to people. But this bird kept its line towards me, so maybe my thought was wrong. I stood still to see what would happen. The bird didn't waver and flew right by me. It was a beautiful bluebird on some mission which didn't involve the human it flew past.

I've been thinking about looking around for information about the flight patterns of birds, but the danger is that my belief in the flight pattern of bluebirds will be shattered by science. I don't mind beliefs being shattered by science, but I just might hold on to this one for a little while.

The Chipmunk

A chipmunk has made a tunnel home underneath a garden in our front yard. This isn't a bad place for its home since Carol plants delicious bulbs and other goodies for the chipmunk to eat. It piles the remains of Carol's work near one entrance to its underground abode.

I was watering the garden using a hose when the chipmunk came down the sidewalk and jumped onto the brick wall that surrounds the garden—it was maybe four feet away from me. This squirrel (I just learned that fact) had what looked to be two large peanuts in its mouth, and it looked very annoyed as I was standing right next to the main entrance to its home.

I got the message, turned off the hose, and backed away from the hole. The chipmunk hesitated for a second before scampering into the hole with the peanuts. I went back to watering the garden wondering whether the chipmunk was going to eat or store its treasure.

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Author: Flower Snark
Email: flowersnark@gmail.com

Made with GNU Emacs and Org Mode.

Page created on 2026-06-09T17:33:23-04:00.