This gray (or Hungarian) partridge is having a rest under a bench after its evening meal.

As I sit here in self-isolation to do my part to help flatten the curve and stop the spread of covid-19, I take solace, and indeed joy, in birding out my kitchen window. The dark-eyed juncos, Lady and Sir Downy woodpecker, as I call them, and others come to say hello and feast on the tasty snacks I put out for them daily. The red-breasted nuthatch, male and female, have paired up and come together to the insect laden suet as well as the squirrel proof feeder filled with black oil seed. The squirrels have not been forgotten, though. A special feeder is at the ready when they are. My hanging flower basket still contains the remnants of last summer’s royal, red, geranium blooms, and a hefty layer of black oil seed for the hungry squirrels.

The house finch are singing their hearts out. Their melodious melody is uplifting. The males’ chests are becoming brilliant red as spring becomes more of a reality, and the female finches are beginning to pay more attention as their thoughts move toward raising a family sometime in the coming months. The house sparrows have stopped being bossy and seem to be feeding in harmony these days.

Four black-capped chickadees are vying for territory in the backyard. They are having a great time chasing one another all over from tree to tree and shrub to shrub. They do stop the chase long enough to take a drink at the bird bath, to grab a black oil seed or a beak-full of suet for energy. Their antics are quite amusing. I hope that one of the two pair will set up housekeeping in one of the nesting boxes in the yard.

Two gray partridges, nicknamed Hungarian partridge because they originally came from Hungary, come every evening when the excitement has died down to gobble up the ground seeds that I have spread or that have fallen from the feeders. Nutrasaff and white millet are enjoyed in peace and quiet as dusk begins to fall. Sometimes they sleep under one of the benches before flying off to the ravine for the night.

The number of species in the yard has increased in the last week. Some are on migration and stopping to fuel up for the rest of their journey, but I can’t help but think that the birds know what is up and come to our yards to entertain us and keep us company during this time of need for joy and positive thinking. Keep your bird feeders full and the birdbath clean and fresh. You will be rewarded several fold. Nature has a way of helping us to heal better and faster. Some of the latest research by scientists back this up. Surround yourself with nature, and pay attention to the wildlife that visits your yard. I think you will feel more positive and better in a heart-beat. At least this works for me!

By now, you might guess that I am in self-isolation in Calgary, Alberta Canada. It may be awhile before I am able to return to the Peninsula, but I will still write drawing on my experiences from the area. Let us all continue to enjoy the birds and other wildlife from our windows as we do our part to help flatten the curve. Let our birds be a beacon of hope!

”Common Birds of the Long Beach Peninsula,” by Kalbach and Stauffer, is available from the Chinook Observer, Bay Avenue Gallery, Time Enough Books and the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau.