Birds in Our Yard

We put out some food morning and night
And wait for our friends to arrive
Two white cockatoos, a flock of galahs,
Four rosellas, the crows and magpies.

Happy families chirp with their noise and their fights
And boss everybody around,
Lorikeets, crested pigeons and gentle brown doves
Hop about, picking seed from the ground.

There's a fat little fellow, a magpie? but no
Though he's black and white just like that bird,
When I dig in the garden he comes close and waits
For white grubs or a worm in the dirt.

Around in the trees a shy group flits in
For the nectar they find in the flowers,
They dance with each other and chatter and sing,
I look hard to see them - for hours.

Our dog has some trouble, they perch in his tree
He barks aloud warning to all.
When they take off, he chases them out of the yard
Just waiting for any that fall.

At night time the Owls- unexpectedly caught
In the beam of the lights of my car,
Pretend they're not there, or glide up and away
Silent and ghostly oooooh.....aaaah

We've seen many more, they come and they go;
Currawongs, and ducks on the creek.
A lone kookaburra watches from far,
He chortles and laughs, almost speaks.

Our birds and their feathers are such special friends,
We're happy to see them come in.
That's why we put grain in our back yard each day
We don't mind the poop and the din.

Marg Barnes
Crows Nest

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