Dogs are great at begging for treats.

But birds are no slouches when it comes to lobbying for food.

This was the scene outside the window alongside our dining table this morning. It’s almost always like this in the early morning, and then late in the day. The birds can see us inside, and so they come over, and form little feathered vigils just outside the window.

In the top photo, you can see the end of the table, where I often have my laptop set up for browsing, writing, or processing photos. And, out the window, you can see one of the most expressive mynahs reminding me of his presence.

Then the cardinals show up along with a few more mynahs. Here are a couple of photos looking out the window. Yes, they can be persistent. Then, at some point, they realize it’s time to go out and act like birds instead of waiting for another human handout.

It’s a war of wills until they finally head off to forage for whatever it is these birds eat. And, no, I don’t always have the will power to win this competition.

Did I mention that you can click on any of the photos to see a larger version?