Birds, some of my favorite audiences…

I’ve spent the most wonderful day so far, playing music to the chorus of birds in my back yard. The feeder is about 10 feet from where I sit to play. From my playing for the critters on the hills behind our home in Kansas when I was young, to the sea lions I’ve played for in Mexico, I’m always moved by the trust that animals place in my music and the draw that the guitar has on animals, as well. The most daring today is the red-winged black bird, who stands a couple of feet in front of Maxwell who lies watching in the grass. He whistles loudly and persistently until Max finally lifts his head and the bird flies away, all the time I’m playing. There have been orioles, at least Orchard and Hooded and lots of little finches that expertly wrestle in mid-air back and forth and fight over the niger and sunflower meats I’ve sprinkled. The turtle doves are elegant and are calling from rooftop to treetop over my head. As the quiet rain with calm thunder makes its arrival, there are hawks hunting the edge of the valley in front of me. As long as I play my music the birds show no concern. But, as I finish a piece and look up, the whoosh of their wings fills the air and all but the black bird rush away. He just whistles and waits to see if I’ll begin, again. I can’t decide if he’s smarter, braver or more stupid than the rest. :o) I’ve learned to watch and play at the same time and then they don’t seem to notice or see me as a threat at all. Their musical additions to my pieces are so charming and inspire me to write something new, something played completely at the top of the fretboard to dedicate to my beautiful little friends. Thank you, God, for giving me such an appreciative audience. I’m forever wondering what God gave me this passionate gift for and I suppose that maybe, just maybe it’s to make my birds(God’s precious creatures) as happy as they make me.