The Bird Whisperer

This summer, at the Shuswap, I had two opportunites to experience the power of the old adage "a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush". Twice I got to pick up a stunned bird that had lost an encounter with one of the windows in the house.

The first time, it was a small hummingbird... i picked it up gently with a paper towel, but could feel it stirring. I held it just long enough for a few of the kids to look, before a small opening it my hands gave it the opportunity for escape.

The second time, I saw the little yellow bird hit the glass and fall to the ground. The bird tried to stand back up, and fell over on its side. I wasn't sure if it was stunned, or in the beginnings of its death throes.

Alex was sitting on a chair on the deck. I scooped the little thing up, and set it down on the chair beside him. Still stunned, it sat beside him, giving its head the occasional flip.

Arta grabbed her bird book (to identify its type), while the rest of us looked on, debating the extent of its injuries. After a few minutes, it started hopping around on the chair.

Then, with Alex whispering little soothing comments at it, the bird jumped up onto Alex's leg. Hooks right into him.

The bird hung out on Alex's leg... looking around. Stayed on even when Alex slowly tried to stand up.



And finally, with another flick of its head, this little bird, like the hummingbird, spreads its wings and headed back to the bush.