There are many species of birds around the acreage of our country home. I feed them and provide some housing but some find shelter in unlikely places. Recently at dusk, we spotted an avian form fly down and slip through a crack in the slats of our well-house. “That better not be another starling, “I remarked. Starlings harass the native birds and we often block their nesting sites. We investigated but could not see in the dark recesses. With a gooseneck flashlight made for engine repair, I spied a female nuthatch sitting on her nest looking up at our invasive bright light…
This year marks the 25th anniversary of living in my home, a 100-year-old farmhouse in rural Oregon. When I moved in May of 1993 with my then husband and 6-year old son, I thought we had made a huge mistake. It was overgrown, musty and dirty from the previous owners who smoked. The interior was dark and depressing (it doesn’t get worse than old brown shag carpet). We froze the first two winters. Over the years lots of changes were made mostly by our own hands. The place is now warm, bright, & inviting. The now ex-husband departed years ago for a younger model and a better man has been with me for the last 18 years My son has grown up and made a life for himself. In the meantime, my roots have grown deep here. This is my beloved home.
There are many species of birds around the acreage of our country home. I feed them and provide some housing but some find shelter in unlikely places. Recently at dusk, we spotted an avian form fly down and slip through a crack in the slats of our well-house. “That better not be another starling, “I remarked. Starlings harass the native birds and we often block their nesting sites. We investigated but could not see in the dark recesses. With a gooseneck flashlight made for engine repair, I spied a female nuthatch sitting on her nest looking up at our invasive bright light…
By Alanna Pass 