bird’s i view (Amelanchier arborea)

If i was a bird I think I would eat red berries. I think my favorite would be serviceberries. I wonder what else I would think about? Surely I would travel in search of hedgerows along century old American farmlands and seek winter warmth in coniferous hearts.

What if I was to design a landscape entirely from the perspective of a bird? Would humans appreciate it? Would they applaud its variance from other parks and plazas? Could I design a house for a human that birds would like to fly over, land on and sleep around? Could the walls of my house be houses for birds… singing the sun under the western horizon.

As a bird, would I like music? How about Bob Dylan? What is the best size wire to land on? Are my feet shaped this way to stand in a particular tree? Are my colors suited to the changing landscape. As the leaves, berries and blue skies disintegrate into a culture of consumption will my feathers match the strip mall? Will it matter anymore?

My bird’s eye view still looks for serviceberries and serviceberries are coming soon. Amelanchier sp., common name Serviceberry or Juneberry, is an understory tree that flowers in early spring (now) then produces small (1/2″) red/purple berries that are prized by 40+ species of birds and some astute humans. The fruits likely won’t be out around these parts until late June or July but the flowers that are blooming now are paving a sweet road to summer…between the white flowers, the delicious fruit and lantern fall color, the serviceberry is surely top 5.