Overcoming Shyness

   Since I feed the birds and spend so much time near the feeder bench, I suppose it is only natural that the birds become accustomed to my presence.  While there has always been sort of an odd friendliness with the doves and wrens, that closeness has now extended to other birds.  Cardinals, red-winged blackbirds and blue jays call for me to bring breakfast.  The woodpeckers will go so far as to start hammering nonstop on the tree outside the window until I bring sunflower seeds.  Even the thrashers, who normally do not come to feeders, wait for me to stir the mulch so they can snatch up bugs.  There is a certain rapport that comes from simple kindness.

  For the past week, a pair of the shyest birds on the Bayou have been coming to feed on seeds that the other birds drop from the bench.  Normally, the Eastern Towhees feed mostly on insects but will eat seeds and small berries if found.  This pair has been coming to the gardens for the past couple of years but have always been leery of my presence.  Today, it thrilled me to find that both male and female came to feed.  She stayed only for a few moments before flitting back under the jasmine fence row.  (Perhaps her nest is there!)  His visit was much longer.  He lingered even when I eased my way to only a few feet from him.  I watched as he scratched beneath the lilies before coming out to observe me!  I was near enough to see his glossy feathers and even his bright red eyes!  What a beauty this bird is!  I did get tickled at how he would tilt his head questioningly as he tried to figure out if I was a predator stalking him or if I was a friend helping.  Mr. Towhee, you have nothing to fear from me, my friend.  You have nothing to fear from me.