Birdsong and Watermusic

My guest walked up the long, winding drive where she’d left her car below. When I met her at the front door she said, “I got out of my car to be met with the sounds of birdsong and watermusic!” That just about captures the heart of Adytum. We love living life with the birds here; being part of the flock and being shown such a beautiful way to live.

As I explained to her, the birds were here long before we were. When we viewed the land the first time, we felt we entered a party in full swing with all the noise and action…Since there’s never been a house on this land; it is a natural bird sanctuary.

We brought in feeders, fountains, birdbaths and birdhouses to enhance their natural habitat and encourage more to come. Most who see Adytum’s bird life are inspired to begin their own bird sanctuaries bringing in feeding stations and water features, bird houses, leaving some brush piles for cover and providing sugar water for annual migrations of hummingbirds.

Hundreds of birds visit Adytum lands on their migration raising young here annually or staying year round. It is a lesson to us all as we see different species feeding in peace, side by side; the feeding stations a kaleidoscope of yellow, red, blue, black, brown and white feathers, large birds and small.

In ancient literature, birds have been portrayed as messengers. They bring us the message of living in peace with all nations, of bringing beauty and song to the planet, and of trusting Source to provide no matter what.

There are also many natural springs that create little creeks and waterways, but we’ve added ponds and fountains to assure year round water supplies for the wildlife here on the hill. A flock of about a hundred Cedar Waxwings come annually to eat from the wild cherry trees here; they always make time on their migration to play in the waterfall. It’s an anticipated event at Adytum, like a festival. They play just like human children, darting under the flow and splashing their friends. It’s amazing how like one another we all are at the heart level.

We climb several flights of stairs and reach the third floor. Here we’re in view of the canopy and can observe bird life largely undetected due to the reflection of the windows. I explain to her how amazing it is to watch the birds nibble lichen on the vine maples after their meal of black oil sunflower seeds or cracked corn that we’ve provided in feeders below. We see their private interactions with each other. Later outside, we feel very much like we’ve been received into their flock family as they show fearlessness with us. They continue feeding if we sit in the hot tub with morning coffee, adding to our pleasure and perhaps theirs too...

Later, walking the trails, I recognize the voices of each of our feathered friends. The sweet voice of the shy Nuthatch and Goldfinch, the cheery Robin, the Towhee’s call and the hawk overhead; the raucous Evening Grosbeak flock that comes daily for breakfast and stays all day long. The whir of the hummingbirds in the fields, the Canada Geese overhead, the wren calling from a brush pile, beautiful song sparrows, the inevitable Stellar Jay’s shrill alarm, the noble Eagle, crow and raven, owls and doves…we are never alone here.

As I write, we have classical music playing, but the sound of the communal bird choir pervades the house as constant background music. When I open the French doors to the deck, I know it will be just like walking into the crescendo of nature’s composition- the voices of all nations raised as One.

We love living life with the birds; being part of the flock and being shown such a beautiful way to live in peace with acceptance, trust, and play, encouraging us to bring our own beauty and song – our gifts- to enhance other’s experience on Earth.