Gimme Breakfast!

  Since my early mornings are limited to the garden area until I get the ok to venture further, I have discovered a whole new pastime.  I watch who comes to the bird feeder.  The feeder is not actually your normal, cutesy bought feeder but an overturned glass tabletop set atop of an old wicker end table.  It works, in a fashion, and the birds do not seem to mind.  They only fret over the quantity of seed and the pillaging squirrels.  In fact, the birds will start to call if I am ten minutes late in filling the tray.  

  One of the earliest visitors is a male red-winged blackbird.  This handsome fellow will perch himself on a fence post or a low branch and screech until the seed is poured.  If I do not move quickly enough, he gives me a good fussing.  I am assuming this is the new "boss" of the blackbird world as the others will linger on their branches until he has eaten his fill.  Then, they come to dine. 

  This is not the Old General that has been here for years.  This is the New General.  The change of command took place this spring.  I was truly sorry to see that my old friend was no longer with us as he and I became quite close friends.  The bird was rather tame and, as a commander, was always fair.  The New General is still a bit leery and is ruling with severity.   Perhaps he will mellow once the others cede to his powers but, for now, he still has to declare his leadership occasionally.  There have been a few spats among the birds for territory but, as it always does, it will work out to be satisfactory on all parts.  For now, I shall be happy with having him as my first morning visitor.