Life Lessons from the Birdfeeder

Have you ever stopped for a day to watch all the activity that goes on at a bird feeder? If you do, it can really teach you some valuable life lessons!

I have always fed the birds, the squirrels, and the deer just because I love animals and it is the right thing to do in my head. It was always just an afterthought, something I did without really thinking until one day….

COVID happened! For the first time in my life, I found myself working from home and staring out my window at the bird feeder. I never realized just how much activity went on during the day at that feeder. Not only did the birds visit, but there were turkeys, rabbits, deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and the occasional groundhog that would come by daily to eat out of the feeders and scrounge the ground for the fallen seeds.

All this activity inspired me to out up more feeders, a bird bath and a corn holding chair that was made especially for squirrels! Every day it seemed like more and more animals came by to visit and have a bite to eat or to grab a drink or a bath. It was a wonderful sight to behold, and it brought me such joy just to be able to watch them all day. It’s my little wildlife sanctuary!

The more that I watched the animals, I began to learn their habits and special little ways of eating, cleaning themselves and socializing. What I learned was amazing! It dawned on me one day that there was never any fighting at the feeders. At any given time, there could be birds and deer, deer and bunnies, and turkeys and birds out there, and there was never a squabble. They all shared!

I would watch and there would be twenty birds out there, if not more, and they would sit up in the trees and wait patiently for their turn at the feeders. The ones on the feeders would eat a little bit and fly to the branches so others could eat. There was no bullying nor any aggression as they all seemed to understand that there was enough food to go around. The birds didn’t care about other birds that were a different species or color, big birds and little birds all ate together out of the same feeders. The big birds were not pushing the little ones out of the way so they could eat more, the little birds were not ganging up on the big birds. They all ate harmoniously.

Then came the turkeys and I thought for sure that they would shoo off the birds that regularly came to the feeders. But once again, I was surprised! They all ate together. There was no fighting, the little birds would be on the ground pecking away with the turkeys, there was no fear, just a nice peaceful munching session. The turkeys began to come around with their babies and it was a beautiful thing to watch.

The deer would also come around and still the birds were not afraid. They would come just as much as before with no wariness of the deer. The deer did not care about the birds either. The birds would flit around the deer, being careful not to be stepped on when they were foraging on the ground. Then to my delight, the deer also came by with their little ones. While watching all this peace and harmony, I started thinking, “why can’t humans act this way?”

The only kink in the peacefulness of the birdfeeders were the squirrels, they would get on the feeders and not let the birds eat, this was unacceptable to me. I did not want the squirrels to go away, but I didn’t want them bullying my birds around either. So, I purchased some baffles for the bird feeders and bought the squirrels their own feeder that they could climb into and sit in a "fishbowl" and a special little feeder that holds ears of corn. The squirrels were delighted and life at the feeder was now back in the balance.

Now winter has set in, and I was sure that I would see some fighting or aggression amongst the birds and other animals that visit. There is over a foot of snow on the ground, and it has been extremely cold for a while now, foraging food is scarce. To my amazement, still no fighting. Sure, there are not as many birds now, but what is here still take turns at the feeder. It is like they know that they all need to survive and the only way to do that is live as one.

The deer have their own feeders in the winter and for the most part they all get along with each other as well. From time to time, you have that one deer that acts like a bully, but the others band together and will not be bullied, it is great to see such unity amongst the smaller ones. The birds will stop at their feeders, and they don’t mind, the deer still eat the bird seed that falls to the ground and the birds don’t care. They all respect each other’s life.

At any given time, there are birds, turkeys, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and deer at the feeders. At night we have raccoons and flying squirrels that also stop by for a visit. It has been such a social hub in our yard for the animals that it has taught me a great deal about how I should view other human beings in my life.

The animals at the birdfeeder have taught me to respect one another because everything is alive and trying to live the best life possible. They do not have some animal overlord above them forcing them to get along or else banishment. They just accept one another for what they are.

They do not look at size, color, race (species), gender or intellect like we do. They do not care who has the biggest acorns, sunflower seeds or the most corn kernels like we do. They do not care whether your skin is smooth, furry, scaley or feathery. To them, they are all equal and they are trying to have a wonderful life. They also seem to know that if you act like a jerk, the rest of the pack will get them in the end. They know that standing together is more beneficial to them that trying to be the “lone wolf.” They are united and that is something that we as humans should try to be.

So, as I sit here looking out my window at the birdfeeder, I am happy. This past year has changed me in many ways and has pointed out areas that I need to improve upon. My biggest goal now is to live my life like the animals and not see the world through my human eyes but apply the lessons I have learned from the birdfeeder and see the world with open eyes.