Being an amateur birdwatcher of sorts, I have come to see several different species that visit our homestead. While there are hummingbirds of various sizes and colors, the Baltimore Orioles are among the most colorful winged creatures to stop at our jelly feeders.

While we don’t feed seed to birds in the summer, those birds that do appear now are fun to watch and listen to as they sing for their supper. What I have come to realize about the bird kingdom is that the male species are the most colorful while their female counterparts sport more subdued colorations.

For instance, the male cardinals are brilliantly red while the females are less adorned with color. The same goes for the Orioles and so many others that visit.

Mother Nature was smart. She makes the male birds more colorful as a sort of protection measure for the smaller, more plain Jane females. After all, the females are responsible for producing the eggs to ensure another generation of their species.

It’s a busy time of the year for all kinds of animals around us. Sometimes it can be a challenge just to drive to and from our house.

The other day, while driving down the country road near our home, I had to slow down and even stop several times because of animals crossing the road. The number of rabbits I have encountered on my travels and in our yard is quite amazing this year.

Then there are the turkeys that prefer to saunter across the road instead of taking flight. Yes, turkeys can fly. I have witnessed them many times.

Don’t even get me started about the squirrels and chipmunks that can’t decide on which way they will escape the road. You just never can be sure what they are going to do.

However, it was a family of Canada geese that really got my attention recently. I saw them walking toward the road, so I slowed to a stop. There was no traffic behind me on our road, so I wasn’t causing a traffic problem.

I watched as one of the adults, I’m assuming the mother, led a brood of four ducklings onto the road. However, it was obvious to me that the larger goose was a male who took up the rear of the platoon, truly acting as an extra security measure until all were safely across the road. That last goose kept looking back and squawking loud as if to warn me to stay back. I was only too happy to oblige.

It’s funny how all these birds and creatures seem to understand and value the role of fathers. We could take a lesson from them … happy Father’s Day to all the dads. And thanks for always holding our hands when we cross the road.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.