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| Photo courtesy of Emily Hopper/Pexels |
I got busy last week and didn't get a post done but today I sat down and captured this moment from a recent walk. I try to walk most mornings and one route I take goes by a protected wetland area.
I don't usually feel the need to protect myself from the inhabitants but, hey, I was, after all, the trespasser in this scenario.
Unvigilant
by Karen Edmisten
An unexpected
encounter, the impact as if
a piece of sky pounced.
Thwacked from behind,
encounter, the impact as if
a piece of sky pounced.
Thwacked from behind,
I was startled, unmoored,
looked around.
His innocently cocked head
looked around.
His innocently cocked head
fooled me not.
Red-winged blackbird thug.
Red-winged blackbird thug.
18 comments:
Ha! I hope you're ok. How fun and funny to read about that rascally red-winged thwacker. And, it's really lovely to see your original work here today. Well done, Karen.
Hi, Linda! Ha, yes, I'm fine. I was just so surprised at my Hitchcockian moment. I turned around to identify the culprit and actually said out loud, "Really?! That's what we're doing now?" 😁
I'm always amazed by how small animals are willing to take on big animals, haha! I like "a piece of sky pounced."
"...willing to take on big animals." Right? He was so cocky. :D
Whoa! I can just picture this scene you described, Karen! What the heck? I guess you were near his nest. Or maybe he was in a mood?
Oh I love it. What a perfectly delightful and unexpected moment.
Yes, I think he was in a mood because I was near his nest. :) There are a lot of them nesting in that area. I read up on them after it happened and they're known to be aggressive during mating season and when they think the nest is threatened. One website mentioned that they are "known to dive bomb humans and other predators such as crows and hawks." I don't think I looked too intimidating but, y'know, it's all in one's perspective. :)
Anything that inspires a poem or a good story is worth experiencing, right?
I look for them as I hear them when I walk at a certain lake but yes, you must have made him worry. What a surprise, and thinking "as if
a piece of sky pounced." That is funny, Karen. Glad it was only a "red wing" from the sky. Glad you're okay!
Linda, you're smart to be vigilant. :) It was such a surprise, and then so funny.
Karen, an original poem hits home-I guess we all have to on alert with the animals that inhabit earth. The bird as a "thug"-great word choice. I once walked alone through the forest nature trail and encountered two deer coming toward me. I also felt unbalanced and wanted to be far away from the duo. Later that day my daughter said, "The deer won't hurt you" but that did not make me feel better.
Thanks, Carol. Did you see Patricia Franz's recent post about finding (in her kitchen!) a mama bear and her cubs?
Cool! I've only had close encounters with our winged friends. Yesterday, leaning on my deck rail I was treated to a swoosh encounter with a passive-aggressive Stellar's Jay. He's still mad that I dismantled his hoped-for nest inside my deck umbrella. Happy wandering!
Konkaree! Glad that "piece of sky" didn't hurt you, Karen. Beware birds with attitudes. :)
Patricia, we've been making some swallows mad, too, as we dismantle nests as soon as they start to assemble them. They keep returning every year to Edmistrano and while, on the one hand I love them, on the other hand they can make such a mess. :)
Bridget, I'm feeling like "konkaree" should become the name of a poetry form now. :)
"Thug" so appropriate for those menacing red-winged blackbirds, and your poem so timely for this nesting period of their's. I'm teaching a Plein Air Class on Sunday afternoons and the park we are in has big signs all over telling us all to be aware and careful of the nesting red-winged blackbirds. I saw one man that was thwacked on the back of his head about three times, I also heard they don't like hats. Great post Karen, thanks, and I hope you are okay too!
Thanks, Michelle! I am fine, and I hope that poor guy who was thwacked three times is too. :)
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