Crazy bird lady

I have been feeling anxious to start projects, then paralyzed to start anything (all my ideas right now are BIG and involve help and lights and blah blah blah--in other words, difficult to start during the school year).

I tried starting a building-photo idea I have been playing with, looking at modern architecture and how older buildings become boarded up and how architecture-for-the-poor never surpasses its design. I ended up having someone chasing my car down the street (on foot) when they saw me taking pictures. It was unnerving, though I felt safe and within my morals... it was still unnerving.

This last weekend, even with a pile of grading on the kitchen table, I sat, anxious and paralyzed, watching t.v. shows I didn't want to watch. I compromised by reading some theory books (which is basically work) in a chair by the big window. Between sunny weather and fits of snow, I noted the several yard species of birds who visit our new feeders. I started trying to sketch and photograph them, but my movement would scare them off, and the dirty windows were causing optical trouble. S saw how pathetic I was and squeegeed them clean. There are some streaks still, but WORLDS better. I won't be surprised if I walk into them this summer.

So, here are some crappy bird pictures.

This bird is larger than the sparrows and has little stripes. He is waiting for his turn on the feeder, as it is beginning to snow.

The wrens are loud. They like to shout when they find the seeds. You always know when they are on the feeder. I keep seeing
them fly under our trailers. I wonder if they're building nests under there. It would be terrible if they did, but I also like the idea of bird nests...

Lady Cardinal

Even though this is grainy from the dirty window, the woodpeckers are much more
skittish and hard to photograph, so this is the only picture proving we have woodpeckers.

After the glass was cleaned, it was even harder to sneak up to the window to photograph the critters. This squirrel and stripey sparrow are cleaning up after the other sparrows. The cardinal waits her turn, since the feeder turns into a swing when she joins in.

My view before S cleaned the windows

The local male sparrows are red and grey. Very showy little guys.