Image: Melanie Kyer
“Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?” – Matthew 6: 26-27
When you get older, you start paying more attention to the birds. You just do. But children love them too, why else would so many childhood crafts involve making birdhouses or little feeders out of pinecones? When I was little, I loved to watch the chickadees with my grandfather, who was crazy over them. He had a trough feeder right next to the window in his sunroom and they’d gather in droves there. An artist friend of his once offered him money to kill one for him so he could examine it in more detail for his paintings. Although my grandfather was a hunter, he refused. He could never kill one of his beloved chickadees.
Chickadees are by far my favorite birds, too. Not bright and colorful like the bold cardinal, or elusive and cheery like the bluebird, nor boisterous and aggressive like the woodpecker, their ubiquitous monochrome is consistent and unassuming. They are not the bird you search longingly for on your birding bingo card, but I love them. They are the perfect bird for our home state of Maine, hardy and just a bit cheeky. They know the winter is coming, but they are unafraid and do not flee– they just persist.
There is a lot to be anxious about these days, but as I spend a quiet golden hour enjoying the beauty of the trees and the birds on my deck, I hope I can summon their peace, lose some anxiety and practice persistence.
-Melanie Kyer
September 20, 2025