BIRD NERD

Last Spring my daughter decided to interact with nature.  She is active and prefers to be outdoors and while out supervising her cavalry, she noticed the different kinds of birds and squirrels.  And up went that first bird feeder.

In May, she and Jesse designed and built a bird bath with flowing water.  Having water nearby attracts even more birds (thirsty?)  We have a locally owned company, Backyard Birdshop, and they have 5-6 locations.  All the employees are totally into outdoor life, particularly birds.  She is there weekly.

Jesse has made a bird house and several bird feeders as well.  Each bedroom has a suction cup bird feeder!  She makes suet and hummingbird syrup.  She refills the feeders every day.  She hand feeds them meal worms.  She knows the birds by their sounds, as well as their names.  The boys also know sounds and names!

Now she is learning how to keep squirrels and cats out of the bird area.  She has made evergreen planters for the birds to hide.  She hangs evergreen fronds on and around the feeders, so the birds are out of sight from the local hawk who scares everyone away.  The squirrels now follow her off the condo complex where they are rewarded with treats.

Both parents are night owls and go on an 11pm walk every night.  They hear owls but can  never catch sight of them ... until last week.  And she even got a photo!

Last and certainly not least ... Jesse got her a motion detecting outdoor camera so she can watch her birds from her job.  Said job most likely will be the Backyard Bird Shop.

Bird Nerd is her screen name for groups on Facebook and elsewhere.