Socialization is for the birds!

Last week we had a large snow storm. The weather men were assuring us that we would only be getting about 3 inches of snow but the birds knew better. We live near the woods and there is a large brier patch. The bushes and briers with filled with little birds. They all snuggled down in by the start of the snow.

The next morning it was clear the weather men were not right. We had 6 inches on the ground and it was snowing briskly. The snow kept going all morning without a break. In the afternoon a weak sun broke through the clouds. The birds took this as time to get food.

We watched as the little birds left the bushes in large waves of little wings. Several of the birds headed for a tree we have under a living room window that had little red berries. The tree was gorgeous with clean white snow all over the branches and little red berries peeking out.

As the kids and I quietly gathered to watch the birds eat the berries a large wax wing bird came and sat in the middle of the tree. All the little bird shied away and began fluttering to the ground just to get away. The wax wing was a bully. It used it’s wings to beat the little birds. It squawked at them and flew straight at the little birds to get them to go away.

The kids were so upset. WHY? There were plenty of berries! The wax wing didn’t care. It began swallowing every berry it could.With all the fuss two blue jays joined the fray. They too would be mean to the little birds while pushing each other around. We watched what amounted to a recess fight between three big bullies.

We did notice something that the kids found “so cool”. The little birds were smart. This wasn’t the first time they had been bullied. The little birds would send a couple birds up into the tree to knock down as many berries as possible. Then the little birds could eat the berries that fell without risking being pushed around by the trio of bird bullies.

What could that little display of aggressive behavior teach my children? It teaches that there will always be bullies (people or animals.) Ones in power, with bigger muscles, or any other perceived advantage trying to take advantage of what they see as weaker. In this it was clear the big heavy bird was the bully and had the muscle to back it up, but he didn’t win really. There were other pesky birds. Then the little ones got together and worked to help each other.

While I don’t enjoy the idea of a bully, they exist. We need to show our children ways around them. How to deal with them now before they have to be in that situation.

Work together!

Get out of the situation!

Stand up for what you know is right!

Like fire drills and water safety we need to be aware and proactive!

Yes, this socialization was for the birds. I believe that the birds have also taught us a lesson that is more eloquent visually than I could even have come up with. Thank you birdies, there are pine cone treats on the back porch!