Recycling
by Lauretta Young

Pine Sisken with cat hair, March in Cedar Mill Photo ©2012 by Jeff Young

Last weekend my husband and I participated in a bird count for a Yamhill county biodynamic vineyard. That vineyard, Youngberg Hill, uses a style of farming that is organic—that is, no manufactured chemicals—and in addition, takes into consideration the totality of the ecosystem such as the needs of birds. So we tromped around the scenic plantings of grape vines and peered into the dense surrounding forested areas looking for woodpeckers, hawks and songbirds.

We were fortunate to find several, but we also observed that piles of brush in the natural area on the perimeter of the vineyard, which might look unsightly in your home landscape, do provide shelter for the many tiny wrens and songbirds. This reminded us that we have an opportunity to be aware of our own back yards and how we might look at our "biodynamic" practices as homeowners. To keep with this concept and making one change at a time, led us to recycle our cat's shed hair into bird nest material.

As you can see from the attached photo, at least one early nesting species found this material attractive. Who knew that this bunch of prevented hairballs would instead be a treasured nest material? We watched with delight as this Pine Siskin spent up to 15 minutes picking out each individual cat hair, carefully arranged in his or her (we think this is a female) beak before flying off with a mustache of fur. No expedient grabs of clumps of hair for her! A few minutes later she was back for another load. This species seems quite "polite"—several other birds would wait their turn sitting on nearby branches—and it was all very orderly. This is unlike the squabbling of American Goldfinches as they jockey for position at the seed feeders with displays of aggression and outright pushing.

So while we spend a lot of time enjoying how birds behave, I was also struck at the many disparate ways the same event can be perceived by our human species. During our bird count for this winery the owner had also invited a group of George Fox ornithology students. The vineyard owners, in appreciation for our efforts, served us lunch so we got to sit and visit about what we saw. Like a mixed flock of little brown birds, this group of students had very different reactions to the very same event.

Some of the students focused on how cold they got, how hard the hilly terrain was, how they didn't see X species they needed for their life list, etc. My husband and I walked the very same paths and were awed by a Northern Harrier doing its mating swoops up and over the hills and we were delighted to observe that behavior. Amazing how what we see influences how we feel. And yes it was rainy and hilly and wet….

In the spring we can have moments of joy if we take just a few minutes to watch what is going on and take a breather from the concerns of the day. This is a lot of fun and it changes the way you see your own back yard. What "trash" is treasure for others? How can you enjoy what is right in front of you? What new learning can I have today? All available in your own back yard or a short distance away.

If you would enjoy a fun outing a short distance from Cedar Mill—consider driving through the wine country in Yamhill County. The owners of Youngberg Hill Vineyards allow birders to walk the perimeter of their property if you check in at the tasting room. We saw a large number of very interesting birds there and it was peaceful and quiet. If you wanted to stay longer they have an Inn there that looks amazingly peaceful.

Or simply look out your windows or as you go about your daily chores. Consider the biodynamics of your own home—maybe some dryer lint for the birds? Maybe some yard debris not so carefully cleaned up so that it can be leaf litter for the thrushes to throw around as they scratch for insects. Maybe some fruit past its prime left out for the birds to peck?

Lauretta Young MD is a retired psychiatrist who now directs the self-care program for medical student wellness at OHSU and also has a custom bird touring business in Cedar Mill and beyond. Check out her web site at www.portlandbirdwatching.com

See more of her husband Jeff's photos, including photos from the Youngberg Hill vineyard, at www.flickr.com/photos/youngbirders

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