This morning was beautiful and cold. It was close to 30 degrees, which for here, at the temperate beach, seems a little unexpected, although it does happen every year. Everything has a covering of coarse frost, and the hummingbird feeder has tidy frost roof on it. The ducks are very ready for their corn: as soon as they detect movement behind the windows, they all begin to talk quietly and to move up into the side yard. The grass is colder than the water and some of them will take a few steps, crouch down to warm their feet in their soft belly feathers, then walk again. This is repeated till they get to the area where I throw the grain, where they sit and wait.

    I love throwing the grain these mornings especially, because theyre so appreciative. Theres always a comfort zone between me and the ducks, about 5 to 10 feet, depending on the bird. If I get into that zone as I throw the grain, they will move away or fly. On very cold days, they relax the zone a bit, allowing me to get within maybe 4 feet the brave ones do, that is. Theres always a mix in the flock, some ducks who are more used to humans, and some who fly nervously as soon as I appear.

    Anyway, the herding part the lesson.  I threw the corn and then spread some hulled sunflower seed under the songbird feeders this is for the ground feeders. This area is across the driveway and probably 50 feet from where I feed the ducks. I sat down quietly near the garage to enjoy the ground feeders and lo and behold, here came the ducks over the driveway to sample the sunflower seed. How could they? Theyre supposed to stay on the other side and eat their food! So I got up, walked toward them and waved my arms a bit, saying something like You guys are supposed to be over there! Go on now! They looked at me quizzically and either turned or flew when I broached the comfort zone. But then, just as I sat, back they came. And then the crows came to eat the duck food! Total chaos in the feeding department.

    Hmm. Whose chaos is this? Could this just be my need to keep everything happily in its place when everything is blissfully ignorant of my rules? These birds are food opportunists the crows eat literally anything corn is a blissful feast. Its unrealistic to think they would pass it up. And anyway, why not feed them. They have a rough time making a living in the winter too. I profess my love of crows, then fuss about what they eat?

    And the ducks, well, hulled sunflower is really fatty and rich. Why ever not? And why is this usually generous and calm human waving and making a fuss?

    In my head, the answer was clear let it go! But standing there, watching everyone eating everything, I wanted to gently sort them all out again and fix it. So I did the only thing that I could: I walked away, into the house.

    This is a really tiny thing in the universe of life, but it made me think.  I guess its a small lesson about bigger stuff. Theres a wonderful book called The Not So Big Life, written by Sarah Susanka. Its full of great life lessons. One that I have adopted, because I really like this specific direction, is When you believe that something upsetting in your life is about someone (or something) else and not you, stop. It is about you and its happening so that you can learn more about you.

    One of my lessons from this is that even the small stuff is valuable. I try to learn from even the little things in life, because as I know, the little things can become big things. This morning, the ducks are again all over the yard, savoring the sunflower seed together with the juncos and the fox sparrows. The crows are feasting with some of the ducks on the cracked corn and everyone, me included, is having a good time.

    Bird and wildlife enthusiast Suzanne Staples and her husband live on the Peninsula. Her regular column in the Chinook Observer is based in part on her blog, which is at Northwestnaturelog.blogspot.com.