Saturday, January 05, 2008

Bird Therapy

I am now filling six feeders outside the windows of the therapy office and treatment room and the steady stream of feathered visitors amuse staff and patients alike. When I started work on Friday morning, a patient was waiting to alert me that the finch feeder needed attention. My co-workers took a money collection in a styrofoam cup for more bird seed and peanuts. The Chickadees and Nuthatches are the boldest and most amusing birds, while the Cardinals and Downy Woodpeckers bring the most oohs and ahhs.

Occasional hospital feeder visitors...
Blue Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Redpoll

Regular hospital feeder visitors...
Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Redpoll, Goldfinch, House Finch, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Doves

and those persistent squirrels!


The one window feeder has been a consistent squirrel target and their antics have delighted observers most of all. I was working on another floor when our social worker told me I had to come downstairs right away. A squirrel had managed to take a well aimed leap from a small branch of a nearby shrub into the window feeder. The rodent filled the feeder completely and was happily gorging on sunflower seeds.

The feeder has been moved...again.

10 comments:

  1. Oh those squirrels. You have to admire their tenacity.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There's no better therapy than to watch wildlife outside the window...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8:16 am GMT-5

    Watch those squirrels! I think this is wonderful everyone is able to enjoy these feeders you watch! It is great therapy for sure and nice you bring the birds to your work place!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I guess the next best thing to watching birds out the window is seeing them on your blog. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. People must just love watching the birds at your feeders - nice of staff to help out with the feed!

    ReplyDelete
  6. We have just filled our feeders in our little habitat at work. To keep them full, we will be asking for donations a few times a year.

    I'm so glad you have birds visiting at work. Everyone benefits by watching them - lowers the BP and reduces stress almost instantly, right?

    Those darn squirrels are very talented.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those feeders have to be every bit as therapeutic as the physical therapy Ruth. Bravo to you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The critters bring joy to us. We're connected after all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. KGMom- Tenacious they are, but better than house sparrows in my estimation.

    Jennifer- Yes, and I have to watch that I keep working when I should be charting.

    Monarch- These squirrels can climb brick walls, at least for a short distance.

    FMD- Thanks. I think the birds appreciate the food this cold winter.

    Jean- Yes, the staff are becoming hooked ! ;-)

    Mary- You are the shining example of workplace conservancy! You give me ideas.

    Jayne- so true...and they don't have a degree. I am humbled.

    AC- This has shown me that everyone can enjoy nature.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Those darn little squirrels.... always hungry and smart as the dickens! Ruth, I'm so glad everyone at work is enjoying these feeders so much.

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.