It is a simple pleasure. It is relatively inexpensive. I can do it in the warm comfort of our house while sitting in the chair at my desk. Usually, I see the normal suspects but once in a while, a stranger shows up to keep things interesting. I have been watching the birds coming and going from the feeder I have hanging in the maple tree. Periodically, I have to put on my coat and refill the feeder. Without pushing the metaphor too far, I am a provident agent in this economy of nature. I think I have seen some commonalities between us and our feathered friends.
I see what I will categorize as four different types of birds. The first category I will call the poor. In this group, I will include the doves which are unable to land on the feeder. Instead, they glean the seeds which have been dropped into the stones beneath the feeder. Usually, there will be two to five doves walking humbly with their heads down hoping to find a morsel here or there. They spook easily and fly away quickly at any perception of threat.
The second group I will call the working poor. They are the sparrow, finch, titmouse, and others who fly to the feeder and then to a limb to eat the small seed they were able to quickly grab. In less than a minute they fly back to the feeder get another of the small seeds and return to a limb to crack open the seed so they can consume the miniscule nourishment. If they make one trip to the feeder they make 15 or 20 forays. They too are skittish and flash away at any sign of threat.
The third category I will call the middle class. The primary birds in this group are the cardinals. They are bigger than the working poor and their plumage is generally finer. The cardinals feast on the large black sunflower seeds. They still have to work to hold on to the feeder. They don't fly as far away from the feeder as the working poor. They move to a nearby limb, easily crack open the casing which contained a substantially larger meat for their meal.
The fourth classification is the bullies. They are the Blue Jays. Usually, a flock of five or six arrive in close proximity. All the other birds are easily intimidated by the larger more aggressive Jays. The gathered Jays chase off everybody else and take turns coming to the feeder. One leaves and another arrives. They are like fighter planes strafing the feeder. Their beaks are larger than all the others and they are not afraid of using it to drive away all the others. They never seem to get their fill. They are gluttonous and belligerent. They have no concern for the poor, the working poor, or the middle class. The only thing is that once in a while they will spill some seeds from the tray for the poor doves to seek out in the crevices between the stones.
There is a fifth category but they are rarely seen. That would be the occasional hawk looking for a quick capture from among all the others. When the hawk shows up, even the Jays take flight. They are massive compared to all the others. Their crooked beak is perfect for ripping their prey to shreds. The seeds in the feeder are not their concern. They are the super-powers in our back year. All they have to do is screech from a nearby top of a tree, or more aggressively perch on the fence 10 yards from the feeder and all other flee in fear.
Am I projecting what is see in our local and national politics upon the birds? It is possible. Like many others watching what is going on in our state and national capitols, it is hard not to see a similarity. Since the hawks rarely show up, I see a lot of the bullies, the Jays, in nature and in our political environment. The Jays are only out for themselves. If they could construct an economic structure I am sure it would involve a "trickle down" aspect and would claim the whole feeder as their own.
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