I'm sitting in a coffee shop called Latte Da in Lee Vining, California. Drinking a decaf and watching birds around a feeder, I feel at peace and satisfied watching their energy and apparent etiquette over who feeds first. The cool weather and my place in the warming sun feels good.
What at first seemed like a complete free-for-all now appears to possess some kind of order in the process, though I certainly don't understand it. It would seem that the larger birds (in this case, sparrows) should be able to take their turns when they wished to, but they appear to be in no rush to eat. In fact, they look at bit nervous and confused over the apparent chaos.
Some of the smaller birds rush from nearby branches to eat, then back, then quickly to the feeder again, but it is difficult for me, a non-bird, to accurately determine who is who, and sometimes even what species they are. I believe there are only three there in total, including the sparrows.
While I find all of the birds to be just so beautiful, I see as most enjoyable the mystery of their collective behaviors. Amid apparent chaos, there seems to be some kind of loose etiquette. Most likely, from my vantage point, I'm either be too close or far to see it.
