She is one of those things that makes my yard unique. While everyone else has chickadees, goldfinches, and cardinals visiting their feeders, I get Bernice. And though I get the little birds as well, Bernice's Hindenburg frame casting a ginormous shadow on the intended feeder is enough to send the bravest birds a-fleeing. And once she's there, there isn't much room for anyone else.
So, while the rest of the world would shoo my turkey-sized visitor, I welcome her with a "Hi, Bernice!" when she comes. It used to scare her and send her flying, but now she is almost used to it and sticks around.
And even though she doesn't fit the standard of what true birders want visiting their feeders, I love Bernice. She adds character and flair to the already wacky atmosphere of our yard.
"When you entertain evil thoughts like hostility and hatred, there is no joy in your heart and you are a nuisance to others. On the other hand, if you develop kindness, patience, and understanding, then the whole atmosphere changes."Happy Weekend, pallies.
---Dalai Lama
25 comments:
How cute...I think pigeons are cool - in NYC they are so fat they can barely fly and it would crack me up to see them walk everywhere - like true NY'ers.
And a happy weekend to you pally. Tell Bernice "Hey" from Midnight and me.
Hi Bernice! Love the orange leggings.
I'm happy and grateful to see almost any sort of woodland creature pop up in my backyard -- even the bunnies who eat my tulips. Especially the bunnies, because they are so sweet and like to play the hopping game with their friends.
I bet Hobbes can't wait to greet Bernice... and the Dalai Lama too.
Blessed Weekend Lin! :D
Hi Lin!
it was so good to see you in my comments the other day! I hope to be back in blogland in about a week. I've missed you guys!
Hope all is well and that you are having a fantastic weekend.
Jen
I have always loved pigeons. And seagulls.
What can I say...
I love to see these fellows in my yard and we always have lots of them visiting. We also have the chicadees, finches and woodpeckers. My husband so enjoys watching them.
Ooo I love Bernice! We have a couple of mourning doves that peck around the feeder. They are lovely. I think Bernice takes the cake when it comes to orange leggings..
In other news... there was a news story here that someone had stolen some carrier pigeons from a home! Culprits still not caught. Weird. :S
I think Bernice looks like a perfect guest. I love the pose. I would gladly welcome Bernice at my feeder, that is if she should ever fly this way
Grace--Being that I only get Bernice and her friend, Bernardo, I don't mind them. Now if I had 50 of them, I probably wouldn't think they were so cute.
Chuck--Oh, Bernice would make Midnights teeth chatter. My kitties chatter at her girth all the time!
JD--I like just about anything that comes in the yard too, except the raccoon because he will eat my frogs. But I do enjoy whoever stops by. I don't have rabbits though--I wonder if Hobbes would chase them??
Vanilla7--He chatters his teeth at her, but doesn't chase her for some reason. I think the lion in him would love to eat her, but he's too chicken to get her.
Jen--I've missed you! I was happy to see that you posted and were around for a day. I hope all is well and your project is coming along.
Pricilla--I like Bernice because it is only her and her friend, Bernardo. If there were more, it would be messy and I wouldn't like that very much. And yes, I like seagulls too--on the beach. My icky neighbor throws out whole loaves of bread on her front lawn and it attracts seagulls and they are very messy too.
Buggys--I don't mind who comes to the feeder. I always laugh at people who make a huge fuss over which birds they want at their feeder. My MIL nearly has a heart attack when the squirrels come. Who cares??? Not me. They can all come to eat here.
Rebecca--That is terrible that someone stole the pigeons! Maybe it was a competitor--especially if they race. I wonder if they are released if they will just come home--I bet they will. I shudder to think that they won't ever be released. :(
Ann--She is very timid and looks at me with her head turned like that all the time. Isn't she cute?? I'll tell her that she is welcome at your place. She'll like that.
Bernice is very unique and a wonderful addition to all the different critters in your yard! Who needs the ordinary small birds when you can have beautiful Bernice!
No, no, no, she's no turkey. One of these days I'll do a turkey pic. Bernice is quite lovely.
Hehe I think she's cute. Then again I feed just about anything that wanders into my yard. :)
Sparkle isn't picky - she'll take whatever she can get when it comes to Bird TV. She would be perfectly happy staring at Bernice. And I get the feeling that Bernice would just stare right back.
It's creatures like Bernice that I always like too. Most people think they're not as good as others because they're considered common. But I think that just gives us all a better chance to really get to know them.
I think Bernice is sweet. It is good of you not to chase her off. Good luck with the muscle spasms.
Kat
What a sweetie you are Bernice:)
I love the mourning dove pair that hang out in my yard.
Beaded Tail--You can keep your cardinals and goldfinches--I've got Bernice! :) Why do I think most people are relieved at that thought and not jealous??
Sharky--She's no turkey--just turkey-sized in the eyes of the kitties!!
Storm--It's funny, but she has been coming here for about 3 years now. Same bird--you can tell by her colors. My cat Henry LOVED Bernice--he would get very excited when she would fly in. I'm glad you like her too.
Janiss--There is something about Bernice's size that makes the kitties chatter at her. My cats don't typically chatter at the birdies, but Bernice is just SO big! Sparkle would love Bernice.
Ratty--I never really realized how unique each pigeon is before we had Bernice. I think you are right--most people think they are too common and dirty. Bernice is pretty good, but I can't imagine if she brought her friends.
Kat--She's kinda funky, isn't she?? She fits right in with the rest of us. No use scarring her off--she's been coming here for about 3 years now.
impotenta--Thanks and welcome, new pally!
Jennifer--Isn't it funny how certain birds just stand out to you? I have a mourning dove who returns each year to the bush near my house. She builds the WORST nests EVER and rarely do her babies survive. I like her a ton too, but I'd like to teach her to build a better nest.
We have mourning doves at our place. They clean the ground below the bird feeder. I appreciate that. So I don't mind when one of them clings precariously to the bird feeder for a first chance at seed. Loved the post.
I cannot say I am a fan of pigeons. Is she a pigeon? She looks like a pigeon if not a first cousin of a pigeon.
However, I love the name Bernice. That's so perfect for her and like JD I love the orange leggings. So you, Bernice and the Dalai Lama have opened my mind a bit.
Sweep the Leg -- that's not bad for a Monday morning.
How can you tell if Bernice is a Bernice or a Bernie??
Even though it is late in the day, I just wanted to say Hi to Bernice. get Doves under the birdfeeder I have never seen one try to fit on the little tray. So she must be a very agile and determined Dove.
Queen of orange leggings - girl you just crack me right up!
Marilyn--I like how they clean up too. They'll even eat the stale thistle that the goldfinches refuse to eat. They are sorta like little vacuums. :)
CG--She IS a pigeon and her name came from Sesame Street--Bert (from Ernie and Bert) had a pet pigeon named "Bernice". I like that name--it makes me laugh.
LJ--I don't know--I just call her "Bernice" and her friend "Bernardo". I'm usually pretty good at sexing fish, so I think she looks like a girl to me. Pigeons are sorta like fish, right?? ;)
Highway--Oh, she's no dove, pally. She is a full-blown pigeon, and yes, she is very brave to come in to the feeder like that. Rock Dove is another name for pigeons--makes them a tad more palatable, don't you think??
Tracy--Everything has beauty, Tracy. You just have to look a bit closer at some things more than others. :)
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