“Hey, Alex!” I called to my son. “Guess who’s at the feeders again today?”
“The goldfinches?” Alex came into the kitchen where I was standing by the sink looking out at my feeders that were swarming with goldfinches.
“I can’t believe we have so many!” I pointed out the window. “Aren’t they adorable? It’s like watching marshmallow Peeps flying around!”
Alex laughed. “I wonder why there are so many of them this year?”
I began to count them. “I see ten right now. How many do you see?”
I saw Alex scanning the yard. “Did you get the two in the tree over there?” I looked to where he was pointing.
“I missed them!” I cried. “That makes an even dozen!”
I reached over the sink and opened the window. We could hear them calling to one another. “They sure have a lot to say.” I looked over at Alex. “I have no idea why we have so many this year, but I’m loving it!”
They fluttered from tree branches to feeder then back to the branches.
“I just ordered a special goldfinch feeder and thistle seed for them.”
Alex looked confused. “What’s wrong with the feeders we already have?”
“They’re not designed for goldfinches.” I shook my head. “And those feeders don’t have their favorite seed in them.”
Alex pointed to the feeders out the window. “I’m going to disagree with you on that one. They seem pretty happy to me.”
We watched the feeders as little battles erupted when they wanted their turn at the perch. “See, they don’t have enough places to land!” I argued. “The new feeder I just ordered is a long tube with several spots for them to perch. They’re going to love it!” I looked over at Alex. “Did you know they’re social eaters.”
Alex looked over at me. “How do you know that?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I looked it up.”
Alex nodded. “Of course you did.”
I continued with my list of facts. “Guess what they call a group of them?”
Alex shook his head. “A flock?”
“Nope! A charm!” I couldn’t help but smile. “Isn’t that adorable!”
Alex laughed. “I guess that’s a good name for a bunch of flying Peeps.”
“I know! Right?”
We watched as a couple of Black-capped chickadee’s tried to get to the feeder but there wasn’t enough room. “That’s another reason I ordered the new feeder. The goldfinches are hogging all the space and my other little friends can’t get a spot.”
Alex laughed. “So now you’re annoyed at the goldfinches for hogging the feeders?”
“Only for the next day or two until their feeder comes in.” I leaned across the sink. “Hey, can you guys let my other friends have a turn please?” I called out the window.
Alex looked at me for a moment before he reached over the sink and slowly closed the window.
“Why do you keep forgetting we have neighbors?”
Slice of Life 