Feed the Birds

Posted by C.J. Cintas, Cattail teacher

Feeding the birds and tending a space is one of the best ways to create ritual at home. Ritual goes hand in hand with Rhythm. The birds will teach us how to get in a daily rhythm if we watch closely. 

Every morning the House finches fly down from the Elm tree and begin to pick the fresh buds off the Wysteria for their breakfast. Soon after that, the Ravens know it’s safe to leave their nest in the Pine tree and begin their search for food. It’s their daily ritual. 

Young children are learning and deciding what is important in their lives based on the day to day rituals they experience. They see adults tending to and caring for their home and family and want to practice it too. Bird feeders are an offering for children to tend their world in a meaningful and magical way. 
​

1. Find a place at home that you can easily visit everyday around the same time. It's best if you can even see that spot from the house. 
   
2. Collect some nest building material (e.g. sticks, grass, hair, leaves, etc..)
   
3. Build a nest or two and make them beautiful. They may even have multiple rooms.  
   
4. Fill each nest with nuts or seeds gathered from your pantry or around your home.  
   
5. Check it every day at the same time and refill with treats for the birds when needed. 

Is there still food? Has the nest been scratched through? Are there any feathers left behind? Can you see who has been eating from inside the house or from across the yard?

There are many curiosities one can follow as soon as you begin to tend the birds. The best part, the birds will only come if you are still, quiet and calm. If you tend your nest each day, soon you'll be in rhythm with the birds.