…they are as sick that surfeit
with too much as they that starve with nothing.
~William Shakespeare (English playwright, poet, and actor), Merchant of Venice
Empty bird feeders
Urged until the end of May
Because of bird flu
Note: This is a Haiku. Here’s the rest of the story.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Oh, gosh! If It’s not one thing, it’s something else. I bet you are anxiously awaiting the end of May.
It’s really sad, but we’ve got to protect those who can’t protect themselves. I imagine a temporary inconvenience is better than a world without birds, don’t you think?
Oh, yes! In Maine, as far as I know, we haven’t received any notices to stop feeding the birds. But I will be on the look out for any notices.
Definitely! I don’t think it’s a problem peculiar just to the Midwest. After all, birds are on the move at this time of year.
They surely are. Anyway, so far we haven’t received any warnings.
Debbie, the first thing I thought when I read the article about this virus is what we humans went through hearing the news of COVID; the lockdown, and how we were encouraged not to gather in large groups. Strange, isn’t it?
The next thing the CDC will do is require the birds to wear masks and fly 6 feet apart. LOL!
Sorry, couldn’t resist some humor.
Hope you’re having a great week, my friend! X
Oh, Ron, thanks for making me laugh! I love the mental picture of birds wearing masks and flying 6 feet apart, ha! And refusing to congregate, too.
These feeders were in a yard Monkey and I passed on one of our walks. They looked so sad and empty … and the birds I saw (not in the picture — they spooked off!) had baffled looks on their little faces. Bet they’re wondering what they did wrong to make humans quit setting out snacks!
Enjoy your Springy week! xx
There’s a lot of concern about avian influenza here, too. I worry about the egg supply from local farmers. So sorry you can’t feed your birds, but I hope the preventive measures wills be effective. Sigh…
I guess it’s a blessing we humans can’t catch it from the birds, but how sad for them right now. Such tiny, short lives they lead. I guess they’re fortunate they don’t stress out over stuff like this — life, for them, is hard enough without worrying over bird flu.
I know. It’s breaking my heart. Most of my little birds have stopped coming by, discouraged by my lack of faithfulness to them. I hope they come back when we can start feeding them again.
Dawn, some “expert” on TV said the birds don’t need us to feed them. Said they can do perfectly fine without our interference. That kind of made me mad, frankly. I know birds appreciate our help — especially in wintertime, when it’s hard to find anything yummy to eat. It will be good to have them congregate around the feeders when this has passed!
And thank you for the information that the recommendation wasn’t for hummingbird or oriole feeders. I still have those up because at this time of year when these birds show up they need something, and there’s nothing around for them to eat yet. And because mostly I will only have one bird at a time at those feeders Glad for confirmation it’s OK to leave those up.
You’re most welcome! I’m glad you’re keeping their tummies full — migrating must be hard enough, without wondering where you’re going to find dinner!
I’d not heard a thing about this, apart from a few mentions of bird flu in China. Apparently it’s not a problem here, thank goodness. The advice we’re getting is to dim any unnecessary lights at night, in order to lessen confusion for migrating birds.Even when we don’t intend to disrupt them, it’s clear that we do.
I hadn’t heard that about the lights, Linda — thank you. I’m glad you’re not having to refrain from feeding them. One gets so used to keeping the feeders filled that seeing an empty one makes you antsy. This yard had about seven feeders out — all empty — and I imagine the birds were wondering where the cafeteria went!
Although sad news, well stated and displayed.
Thank you, Frank. You bet — it’s sad news, indeed.
Oh, a sad little haiku today! Poor birds – they must be wondering why people have suddenly stopped being nice to them! We seem to have some bird flu as well at the moment – it’s just one thing after another at the moment, isn’t it? I want to go live on Mars… 😉
“One thing after another at the moment.” It sure is. We used to have an editor at our local paper — long before the Internet came along — who advised us, especially during the long winter months, to feed the birds. Hard to get out of that habit. Mars?? Is it hospitable to humans in reality, or is that just science fiction?!!
Haha, I’m beginning to wonder if EARTH is hospitable to humans!!! 😉
Good question. Brings up the possibility that we’ve done a lot of this to ourselves, huh?!
I’m so sorry for everyone who has to avoid feeding the birds. I know it would be hard. Sad situation
Thanks, John. It’s hard seeing all the empty feeders. Bird baths, too. But it would be so much worse not having birds around.
That’s true. Hope everything gets back to normal.
Me, too! And I’ll bet the birds hope so as well.
😊
With the spring migration underway, I expect we’ll see cases on the rise, unfortunately. Glad you are doing your part, Debbie!
This isn’t my yard, Eliza — it’s a house Monkey and I passed on our walk the other day. I was struck at how empty those feeders looked without food in them. I’m afraid that, when this blows over, I’ll have to put up feeders in my front yard, rather than the back (to keep one little Monkey from snatching at the guests!)
What brilliant reference and metaphor Debbie. I know you are as sorry about this as I am.
Ah, yes. Thank you, Cindy. Such fragile little birdies — we must protect them!
Poor birds…their lives always seem rather difficult to me, and now along comes the avian flu!
And they can’t read or watch TV or go online, so they have no clue why they’re being forced into this temporary fast! I hope this will save them from getting sick.