I can’t think of many small pleasures that can compare with a neighborhood stroll.

You determine the pace. You determine the focus; inward on your breath and physical sensation of walking or outward on the images that seem to be on display for your personal entertainment. Beyond any individual discovery, every sidewalk trek reminds you that an abundance of delights is always nearby, waiting only for the intention to notice them.

Each walk is a very personal experience. Upon returning from the Manor Playlot the other day, I wondered if anyone else who traveled the same route that day had seen the same things I did. I will come home from a walk amazed. I’ll ask myself, Does anyone else know about this? Then I’ll ask myself the corollary question, to me, an even bigger riddle. Why haven’t I noticed this before?

About three blocks from my home, on a corner, is a spacious, cottage-style home with a lovely garden and a marvelous shade-making tree. There’s a low wooden fence that follows the edge of the grass, making it look like the home would belong better in the country than it does two blocks from a cell phone store, an el stop, and two family-run bodegas, The yard is carefully planted with prairie style, very Midwestern, flowers like bluebells and goldenrod and sports a variety of shrubs, colorful ground cover, and a miniature American flag. But the tree is the most amazing thing in the yard. It contains a neighborhood within a neighborhood. A neighborhood of bird houses.

There are 18 bird houses hanging from the gentle arching branches. At least, I think there are eighteen. I found it hard to count the bird residences in the complex because they hang in such a random manner. I started counting over several times.

There is a blue bird house (not to be confused with a house for bluebirds), a red one and one or two gold-painted houses. There are some single-story houses and some two-story ones, some with windows and yes, some with porches.

Where there are bird houses (with, I presume, bird feeders), there must be birds, I thought during a recent walk.

And while I haven’t seen any Birdland conventions here, it seems to be a popular rest stop. I have noticed a couple cardinals, some flickers, and a more than a few sparrows.

Since I discovered this aviary Holiday Inn, I look for reasons to walk by the country house on the corner. I want to see if there are different species of birds to notice. I like to believe birds feel welcome in my neighborhood, that they’re well-fed and safe here.

I love opportunities to find the country in the city, and I love any discovery that primes my awareness and anticipation for new discoveries. A back yard birdfeeder feeds the bird food and feeds the bird-watcher with wonder…and that’s no small thing.