There has been a birdbath out the kitchen window since the beginning of time but I never paid much attention to it. If it rained, a bird may take a dip; otherwise it sat vacant.
Until this summer.
This summer I decided to fill it regularly and, amazingly, birds arrived, including all sorts of new-to-me and different species that never come to the feeder. Worm-eaters, I suppose, and bug connoisseurs. All the colors of nature: blues, yellows, reds. Spots and stripes, large and small, fluffy and gaunt. The ruthless and the defenseless. I just saw two of them flap and splash each other like a pair of five year olds.
My interest in birds took place only a few years ago, when we moved the feeder from the big maple, where there was a handy twig to hold it upright. We moved it to a spot right in front of the window where I might actually see some action.
And it worked. I placed a bird book on the little table next to me and looked up all the ones I didn’t recognize — which was almost all of them, needless to say. I tried to memorize them but my memory is full, and except for learning the sub-species of woodpeckers by the placement of, or lack of, red spots, I couldn’t remember who was who.
Then I was given a lovely colored glass bulb hummingbird feeder and became more enamored. I now watch the maps for the springtime transit of the little guys’ heading north. And, as they are only avians to use the glass bulb, I don’t have to try to learn who they are. Sometimes a stray bird that doesn’t have a sweet-beak tries to sample the syrup, but not for long, never twice.
But the birdbath showed us there are many other birds to enjoy. Tim suggested we go out and buy a second one. This one is white, ceramic and shapely, quite unlike the cast concrete model outside the kitchen. So far, nobody has used it. Maybe they don’t like white. Maybe they think it belongs in the bathroom. Maybe they are too shy to bathe at the front of the house. Who knows.
Our daughter Chloe is off to Camp Jabberwocky on Sunday, July 26 which seems to me like a vacation from a vacation. Her life is at last a joy, from Island Autism to Jabberwocky and back.
Holly Jenkinson Bario has been visiting her parents Pat and Joannie Jenkinson from her home in Los Angeles. Holly is the president of production for Amblin Partners. Her role is to oversee the films released by Amblin and Dreamworks. She works closely with the company’s chairman, Steven Spielberg. It proves there is more than one way for an Island kid to make it big in Hollywood.
Among the joyful birthday celebrations taking place this coming week include Diana DeBlase on Friday, and Joan Lelacheur on Sunday. Monday is the birthday of the talented artist Max Decker. Dan Rossi, police chief emeritus, will celebrate on Wednesday, and Mark Mazer’s big day is Thursday, July 30.
The fall fashion catalogues have arrived — the answer to your burning question is: brown.
This article appears in July 24, 2026.