A Barn Full of Song

Any of our volunteers who are fortunate enough to spend time in the goat barn will know about our special but surprising guests; song birds. While we do have a flock of chickens who sleep in the barn, and even some precocious ducks who nestle in nightly with the goats, it is the chirping throng of seasonally-rotating songbirds adorning the stalls which often draws the ear and the eye.

Rooster and Goats

In the spring it starts with the tiny, fluttering bodies of chickadees and sparrows. They arrive in small clouds and get busy preening, chirupping, and sharing food with our resident fowl. I have counted over seventy birds in one stall! When they give throat to song, and the air vibrates with the intensity of the sound; it is a full body experience. We get used to seeing them around, flitting from one gate to the next, splashing and preening in the chicken’s water… they become part of our Critteraid family. And then, with no warning, they are gone.

As summer advances, our barn hosts russet-headed finches; tiny, inquisitive bushtits; and yellow-rumped warblers, with their bright yellow caps and tails, and seed splitting beaks. They are all on their migratory journey to somewhere else, but willing to stop by and share their exquisite beauty and vibrant songs in the goat barn amphitheater.

Hawk

The Critteraid farm receives other avian visitors as well – the pond, duck pools, and natural stream that trickles across the property also tempt wild ducks, red wing blackbirds, yellow headed black birds, red tailed hawks, screech and horned owls, and even the occasional falcon!

Horned Owl

We come to serve the goats, pigs, or the llamas, but the bird watching – the chirp-therapy, if you like – becomes a delightful addition to any pasture visit. It is beautiful to see the harmony with which they co-habit this place, and it makes me wonder how many generations of migratory birds have “penciled in” a stop-and-stay once they have experienced the peacefulness, safety, and snacks at the farm.

Their visits behoove me to learn more about birds, and sharpen up my bird-watching skills!