Joann Merritt's Essays

Our Ten Birds Of Christmas
Christmas, 1983

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - he sent ten species of birds as presents for the Merritt family. Since we had written to Santa asking for birds, we were expecting them and had their tree ready. We placed a five foot cedar tree just twelve feet from our glass doors and propped it up with cement tiles. On the tree we tied sprigs of pyracantha berries, pine cones stuffed with peanut butter, apple peelings and bread ornaments in the shape of stars, snowflakes, trees and gingerbread boys. We then scattered grain and bread crusts around the base.

Birds have been scarce because of the drouth, which made us appreciate our Christmas birds all the more. The Hermit Thrush was a nice surprise. A pair of Cardinals was beautiful in the snow. The Bewick’s and Cactus Wrens played hide-and-seek in the tiles. Other visitors were House Finches singing Christmas Carols (Yes, they were!), iridescent Starlings, Shrike (he caught a sparrow from the tree and flew off with it) and a very bossy Mockingbird. An unusual bird was a leucistic (imperfect albino) House Finch. He was light tan with pinkish rump and head. Birds that came close to the tree were Verdin, Flicker, White-crowned Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Kestrel and Roadrunner.

Four generations of Merritts enjoyed the birds and their activities. The two babies loved the movement as birds flew in and out of the tree, two toddlers laughed as the birds ate the decorations and they grew wide-eyed as the red Cardinals made their appearance. Three older boys were more interested in naming the birds and looking through Grandma’s binoculars. Our adult children cheered encouragement as the shy Hermit Thrush became less inhilbited even though the Mockingbird chased him around the yard. Great-Grandma sat in arocker by the doors and watched as the sparrows fought over the bread ornaments - maybe it reminded her of her own brood! Don and I? Santa could not have pleased us more!