The morning of Christmas

Every year readers ask me to reprint my Christmas poem, which first appeared in 1988. After the dust settles on Christmas morning, read it aloud to the kids and grandkids and see how many of the featured birds you can spot at your feeders.

The Morning of Christmas

(with apologies to Clement C. Moore)

’Twas the morning of Christmas,

and all ’round the house,

the feeders were empty,

not enough for a mouse.

Each feeder was hung

from its perch with great care,

but on this frosty morning,

the cupboards were bare.

Tubes, trays and suet bags ...

too many to mention.

In the Christmas Eve rush

they’d escaped my attention.

The rising sun on the breast of the new fallen snow

accented the vacuum in the feeders below.

I couldn’t believe it,

I’d stayed up too late.

I’d forgotten my friends on this most special date.

A ravenous flock perched in dawn’s early light,

reminded me clearly of last night’s oversight.

Impatient, they perched in an old apple tree,

famished and anxious, some scolded me.

Ashamed and embarrassed, I flew down the stairs.

I whistled and shouted like a big angry bear.

“Now Linda, now Nora, and Emma, you, too.

We’ve got empty feeders, there’s so much to do!”

I spoke no more words.

We all went to work.

We filled every feeder.

I’d been a real jerk.

The birds quickly forgave me and flocked to the food.

I knew in a moment, they’d lost their foul mood.

Cardinals and grosbeaks and nuthatches, too,

were first to arrive at my backyard bird zoo.

The sunflower seed disappeared with great speed.

I smiled contently, I’d fixed my misdeed.

Then finches and siskins sought the feeder with thistle.

They flew so intently, each looked like a missile.

Soon sparrows and juncos ventured onto the tray,

hungrily joining the late breakfast fray.

Even the water dish pulled in a crowd.

The titmice and chickadees were certainly loud.

When woodpeckers finally found the fresh suet,

we were completely forgiven, the whole family knew it.

I began to feel better, I’d made up for my goof.

When suddenly a voice caught my ear from the roof.

(You may not believe this, but I swear it’s the truth.)

From a perch at the top, sang a sassy blue jay,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good day!”

The End

A lot has changed since 1988. The old apple tree is gone. My girls are grown and independent. But the feeders and birds remain. And I now have two grandsons who love watching birds at their feeders. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Suet recipe

To make your backyard more inviting to winter birds, try this suet recipe from Alabama birder Martha Sargent. It is a “no-melt, all-season peanut butter suet,” and woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and blue jays love it.

Ingredients:

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

2 cups “quick cook” oats

2 cups cornmeal

1 cup lard (no substitutes)

1 cup white flour

1/3 cup sugar

Feel free to experiment by adding raisins, sunflower kernels and nut meats.

Melt lard and peanut butter over low heat, then stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into square or rectangular cake pan about 11/2 inches thick. Place in freezer for 30 minutes to allow suet to harden a bit, then cut blocks to size to fit your suet basket, separate blocks with wax paper, and store in freezer in plastic bags.

Dr. Shalaway can be heard on Birds & Nature from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday afternoons on 620 KHB Radio (Pittsburgh) or live online at www.khbradio.com. Visit his website, www.drshalawaycom, or contact him directly at sshalaway@aol.com or 2222 Fish Ridge Road, Cameron, WV 26033.