I wish my excuse for forgetting was that I was busy but for the days in question but mostly what I was doing was sitting at my keyboard, co-supervising my dog’s rehab from surgery and looking out my windows at my bird feeders. (I’ve got seven feeders up right now. One family member says seven is too many. A Port Rowan neighbour has fourteen, I point out, so you can’t really object to seven, right?)
But back to my point
here which is that I’ve been thinking about backyard birds a fair bit; the
context being that we are sliding into retirement and opening up a bed and
breakfast.
This contemplation is
causing me considerable anxiety.
Our new home is located
in a great birding area of Long Point/Port Rowan so our bed and breakfast will cater to
birders. It has been suggested that we
ought to keep a list of all birds seen in our backyard. There are, however, a
number of vexing issues that developing a list presents.
For example, to be
counted does a bird actually have to touch down in my yard? That would be a
fairly clear-cut definition to use.
But what if, for
example, one observes a “good” bird flying over one’s yard? We had an
immature bald eagle fly past sometime back when it wasn’t winter. Now, to be frank, it is probably more accurate to say it was
over the neighbour’s yard. But let’s face it, my list would be a better one if I could add
that bald eagle. So I’m leaning to the backyard list inclusion criteria being
“seen from my backyard.” That’s should make for a better quality list.
But here’s another
worry. From my front yard I have a distant view of Lake Erie and this will
surely produce many shorebirds and an enhanced list. It will probably be more
gratifying for my guests, then, if that backyard list captures anything that
can be seen from the front yard as well.
I’m certain the guests
will be keen to contribute to the list. In fact, repeat visitors (should anyone
actually return) could be encouraged to have their own personalized list.
Perhaps this will be an incentive to return.
Do I anticipate
problems? Well, I’m told that some birders can be competitive and argumentative
So, if there are
disputes on sightings will it fall to the reluctant but affable host to
resolve?
And will guests be
trampling all over my yet-to-be landscaped front yard in an effort to maximize
their viewing range?
And what about the
neighbours?
Lots to think
about....
(An earlier
version of this story appeared on Bob’s Blog at http://foreveryoungnews.com/ Canada’s
Adult Lifestyle Publication.)
