FishinBC's Blog

Phenology
Jun 17, 2008 | 8:48 AM PST
Tags: Birds , rain , Showers , Seeds

It is a word.  It is the study of the times of recurring natural phenomena.  I learned that some of my writings are phenology.  See you are never too old to learn something new. 

I love our spring showers and storms.  You can always feel them coming in the air, by the sounds from our part of the forest and the reactions of the local fauna.  The birds are usually the first to alert and all come to the feeders to stock up before the rain hits.  Just as the temperature and humidity start to rise they wing in to get their fill of seed. 

As the sky begins to darken they wing off to find a roost to wait out the storm.  The chickadees are always the last to brave the sudden winds and large drops and sometimes take this opportunity to stake out the feeders throughout the storm, protected under the cover of the deck.  

Yesterday’s storm went about this normal routine with one exception; the chickadees had a wren as a guest.  As I watched from the kitchen window, all were swinging from perches at the feeders as the wind picked up and the thunder rolled through our hills.  We had the typical heavy downpour for about 20 minutes, and the gang of little birds chirped and fed on seed through the deluge. 

As the sun began to break through the clouds and the rain lessened to a sprinkle, I watched as the wren sprang from his perch to the rain heavy branches of the cedar tree.  This little character proceeded to fly up to the limb above him, knocking the water from the limb to land below, flapping his wings and thoroughly enjoying his self made shower.