Birds of a feather

Birds have always perplexed, intrigued, and amazed me. Perhaps it’s because of the sheer variety of birds, providing a never-ending canvas for curiosity. Or because of their beautiful songs and the range of different sounds they can make. And then there’s the ability to fly. What a romantic notion. You don’t like where you are? Just take a few steps forward, flap your wings a few time and you are lifting into new and uncharted places. That sense of adventure thrills me.

I recently spent a week in Eastern Oregon during the bird migration season. Birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors covered the high desert landscape. Curlews, Pelicans, Snow Geese, Canadian Geese, Ducks of all varieties, Herons, Sand Hill Cranes and many other types of birds dotted the farmland and were a veritable feast for your eyes. Although I enjoy watching all the birds, the stately Sand Hill Cranes are my favorite. Their statuesque frames skim across the water, their wings outstretched and fanned occasionally like tightrope walkers in a circus trying to keep their balance.

Some unknown force of nature, like an internal spirit guide, leads them through this region every year just like their ancestors before them. They visit for a short while and just as quickly they are on their way. To their nesting grounds to have their babies, and hopefully protect and raise their young until they are able to join in on the perilous trek in the opposite direction.

I come from a long line of bird lovers and enjoy watching the birds feeding outside my office window, singing to each other their enchanting little bird song. Regardless of the distractions I have in front of my window, occasionally a bird will fly into the window and fall to the ground, stunned and silent. As I rush out to survey the damage, I say a little prayer that I will be able to save them. Most of the time I’m able to wrap them in a soft blanket and keep them from going into shock until they have recovered enough to rejoin their flock. For a moment, I feel their tiny heartbeat against my hand and get to look close into their soulful and mysterious eyes, and marvel at the wonder of their making. And I’m thankful that I can take part in an activity that helps them on their journey home.

Log home birdhouse

This month’s Upcycld project is a Log Home Birdhouse. My father made the birdhouse out of scrap lumber. I added little logs (sticks from branches that fell from my tree).

Step 1) Make a birdhouse of your liking from leftover wood. Use your creativity. There are so many ways you can do this. Check out the internet for lots of unique designs.

Step 2) Find some tree limbs that have fallen or do some trimming. Using a saw, cut little “logs” the length of one of the sides of the birdhouse. Be careful not to cut yourself.

Step 3) Using caulking, squeeze a thick white line onto the wood and stick the “logs” onto the birdhouse, stacking log after log until the side is covered.

Step 4) Repeat on the remaining sides of the birdhouse. NOTE: You might want to leave the back flat for positioning to a wall. If you want to put the birdhouse on the post, you will want to cover all 4 sides.

Step 5) Let dry. Decorate with other natural products if you wish. I used moss from the trees. Be creative and make this a one-of-a-kind creation!

Happy upcycling!