Affordable housing in Selle

I survived an aerial assault this morning. The barrage of dive bombers issued me some stern warnings after my walk through the woods. I was headed across the lawn to admire the pastel yellow hyacinths along the roadside lawn near our sign post.

Suddenly out of the sky they came, first a soloist, then a trio, circling and darting at me, even directing their efforts toward my outstretched hands. I heard their sounds as they flew off after several near misses. Their overhead missions brought me to a halt---and Kea too. It was obvious from her expression that she didn't know whether to yap at them or simply stand her ground. She eventually chose the latter.

After the first overhead flurry, I walked on and turned around to see what they'd do next. The assault had begun just as I passed by the colorful bird house Bill had given me for Mother's Day. He had purchased it at the previous day's Farmer's Market. I had wasted no time nailing the house to the top of a white painted post not far from the shot put circle.

As I watched, I wondered. Could they possibly be trying to seize that house for future population growth? Yes, these aerial attackers were blue birds, apparently upset with my presence near that house. As I finally reached the cedar tree row along the road, they decided to fly onward and leave me alone.

When I came into the house, I told Bill about my aerial ambush at the bird house. When I surmised that they may have been shopping around for a home of their own, he suggested that it's a nesters' market out here in Selle, adding that we definitely have a glut on affordable housing here----at least for bluebirds.

The Taylors across the road saw to that when they spent a winter in their new shop building bird houses and painting them yellow, red and green. Last summer they nailed them to every available fencepost in their pasture which borders Selle Road and South Center Valley. And, we all know that "if you build it, they will come. This spring they have, dozens of them, but probably not enough to choke off the housing availability.

Bill figures the birds can have their pick this year, and when a pretty house, painted up with flowers all over it suddenly appears at the Lovestead, the birds go shopping. I don't know if they had a realtor along with them to explain all the lovely features of our Lovestead bird house, but I do know they're very interested. It's also obvious they don't want me to horn in on their territory.

So, I'll keep my distance and stay out of their way and, above all, I won't interfere with their desires, should they decide to squat in our bird house rather than one of Taylors. After all, when the choices are there, birds are just as smart as we humans. They know a good deal when they see it, and we'll have a good time watching them should they decide to move in.

Now, if the humans could find affordable housing in the Sandpoint area, we'd all be happy.