Early in the morning on sunny days, I can hear birds start to sing as the sun begins to light the sky. Of course, most of them are outside, but there is one who lives in our house. Henry is a Red-billed Fire Finch who has been part of our family for more than eight years. My younger daughter’s love for birds led her to this breed of soft-voiced African finch. Henry and his partner Rose arrived in the mail from a breeder out west. They are tiny and shy, hopping and flying actively around their cage. Through the years, we’ve learned lots of things about bird care (UV light, supplements, seed, greens, insects) and we have sadly grieved when both Rose and a second female, Zina, died. It seems that life is harder for female finches than males.
Henry is certainly a geriatric bird, but he is lively and active. He seems especially active in the mornings when the sun comes shining into the window by his cage. I hear a wide variety of cheeps, chirps, and songs as he flits from perch to perch, bowl to cup, up and down the ladder in his cage. He seems to celebrate the warmth and light – peering with interest out the window at the yard and the street.
Since my daughter left for college, Henry has become my responsibility. Each morning, after walking and feeding dogs, I change Henry’s water and give him fresh greens and seeds. Sometimes I stop and watch him for a while as he eats and drinks. Occasionally, I’ll take my computer in and write or do meetings from the other side of the room, enjoying his activity and singing. I feel especially honored when he uses his bowl for a bath and then preens himself while I am in the room.
I am glad to be sharing my home with Henry. I am grateful for his quiet music, his lively activity, and the way he eagerly nibbles at fresh strips of dark romaine lettuce. I will admit that I have mixed feelings about his captivity, but I cannot set him free – he’d never survive in central Pennsylvania. As I enjoy his company and his songs, I am reminded that creation is filled with a wide and rich abundance of living things. God truly does bring life and abundance to the world.
Peace,