When the juncos appear beneath the feeders
We know that winter is not far behind
Chasing them here and chasing us south
To where the insect eaters have flown
The white-throated sparrows arrived first
Scuffling in the leaf litter for food
Songsters out of season whistling sweetly
Slow high notes easily recognizable
When the lakes further north freeze over
The ducks there will be pushed this way
Seeking open water whether to dabble or dive
Welcomed when work bound us to this place
The seed eaters staying year round
The ones you fondly call the loyal birds
Who reliably entertain us at our feeders
Appreciated more in the absence of others
Chickadees and titmice and cardinals
Nuthatches and woodpeckers three
Bluejays with their cache of acorns
Waiting for us to appear every day
To provide a bounty of sunflower seeds
To replenish the high energy suet cakes
To keep the water fresh in the birdbath
Making their life a little easier
The leaves are lovely before they fall
Exposing the bare branch skeletons
Naked waiting out the long cold months
While we travel where it is green
When we depart the birds move nearby
Being resourceful finding food
And when we return in the spring
It takes a few days until they come back
Soon enough the feeders get busy again
Increasing activity as nesting season begins
Intensity peaking as the fledglings emerge
Chasing their parents begging for more
Marking another trip around the sun for us
And everything alive on this earth
Witness to the cycle of life evolving
Contending with climate change
