Gwen writes

homeschool mom of 4 trying to fit in some time for writing and reflection

Menu
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Goodreads
Menu

A Return to Birding

Posted on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019 by Gwen Shaneck

When we moved to Virginia over a decade ago, I decided to learn all that I could about the area that surrounded our rural home. As a curious person who was tending to small children and living on the wrong side of the digital divide, my world was quite a quaint place. Desperate to know this place that we thought we would call home for a lifetime, I devoted myself to learning about the trees, birds, and flowers that I would see in my yard and on our daily walks.

During our first winter we stocked our bird feeders and consulted 1985 Edition of the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds as the birds arrived. But, that spring, we hit the ground running on our hobby farm buying chickens, goats, and most notably a dairy cow. The wild birds were left to their own devices while we spent all of our spare money on our new “pets.”

After many years of tending to our animals, we have reduced our livestock down to a small flock of chickens. And, at the same time, I have begun to collect bird feeders and again feed the birds.

Male Northern Cardinal in the snow

There is much joy in feeding and watching the birds.

There is also much heartache. In the past we have had our share of setbacks. One year a Northern Mockingbird defended every single feeder relentlessly all winter long until all of the birds decided to go elsewhere. There was another year that the local squirrels raided our feeders every chance they got. And, finally, at the end of last year many of my feeders were destroyed when a hungry raccoon ripped them apart.

This year, we have not had any of these problems, yet. The Northern Mockingbird appears to be playing nice with the other birds, the squirrels are once again confining themselves to the trees in the distance, and the raccoon has moved on.

We have had some new visitors to our yard. Last week a couple of Red-Winged Blackbirds were around for a few days, a few weeks ago a Northern Flicker was seen prowling the yard, and just this week a Fox Sparrow was digging around in the leaf litter.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What is this place?

Welcome to my little place in the internet. I write about my family and what it’s like to suddenly find myself homeschooling my four children – including a high schooler and two middle schoolers during COVID-19. I also spend some time writing about writing and how I am trying to get more of it in my life.

Instagram

gwenshaneck

It looks so delicious! Working my way through @tan It looks so delicious! Working my way through @tanseyclaire #dinneruncomplicated and this is sheet pan eggplant parmesan #dinner #homemade #tryingnewthings #cookingisfun #uncomplicatedcooking #clairetansey
Jelly fungus #jellyfungus #fungusamongus #jellyfun Jelly fungus #jellyfungus #fungusamongus #jellyfungi #fungi #fungiphotography #fungusphotography #fungusofinstagram #fungiofinstagram #fungilove #mycology #mushrooms #mushroomsofinstagram #naturephotography #amateurphotography #macrophotography
“City hike” today at #blackwatercreektrail #ly “City hike” today at #blackwatercreektrail #lynchburgva #hike #hikersofinstagram #familyhike #nature #naturephotography #natureishealing #getoutside
My kids were so excited for the tiny amount of sno My kids were so excited for the tiny amount of snow we got this morning! #snowfamily #snowman
Do you follow @sharonsaysso if not, you should. Ju Do you follow @sharonsaysso if not, you should. Just facts. You decide - make up your own mind. Sharon isn’t trying to tell you how to think. She’s giving you the space to do it.
I took this picture to show off my late blooming C I took this picture to show off my late blooming Christmas cactus, but the design of the mineral deposits on the terra-cotta pot caught my eye. #naturalbeauty #beautyinthemundane #christmascactus #beautyintheeveryday #unexpectedbeauty #houseplants
This was near the summit on yesterday’s hike (a This was near the summit on yesterday’s hike (a part of the AT that leads to Apple Orchard Summit) and it was otherworldly. The trees (apple trees maybe?) were low and twisted and the trail was this grassy path #hikingtheat #hikingtheappalachiantrail #appalachiantrail #appleorchardmountain #hiking #familyhikes #hiking #hikersofinstagram #virginianature #virginiahiking
After taking down the tree I set up a little readi After taking down the tree I set up a little reading nook #read21in21 let’s do this! #readersofinstagram #read #readingchallenge #readingchallenge2021 #reading #readingtime
Apple Orchard Summit via the Appalachian Trail 2/5 Apple Orchard Summit via the Appalachian Trail 2/52 hikes for 2021 #appalachiantrail #hikingtheblueridge #blueridgemountains #blueridgehiking #virginia #virginiahiking #virginiahikes #nature #naturephotography #hiking #familyhike #hikeva
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Comments

  • Easing back into a morning routine: creating peace – Gwen writes on Homeschool Morning Meeting – What we’re doing
  • Gwen Shaneck on Sourdough Experiences
  • Jan Chanski on Sourdough Experiences
  • On buyers…. – Gwen Shaneck on Day Six/Seven

Archives

  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2021 Gwen writes | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme