Funny how often we find birds in the house. Not just here in Salta but also in Atlanta and Bocas. Cardinals, horneros, hummingbirds, too. I found this one flitting about the kitchen recently. Yellow bellow. Red pate. A small creature. Anyone know what kind of bird this is?
I took these photos then set about the project of helping the poor thing return outside. At first, it was petrified.
Anytime I came near, it would panic and dart back and forth, banging it's head into the screen. After a little while, though, it just ignored me.
I have this weird fear of birds. Prior to this bizarre rash of random birds flying into our living space, I've been attacked -- yes, literally attacked -- by many birds over the years. From an old employers parrot grabbing onto my hand with it's amazingly powerful beak to random birds flying out of the sky trying to peck at my head, I've had my share of negative bird experiences.
I always figured, I'll leave them alone if they leave me alone. But that's not an option when there they are inside on your kitchen windowsill.
So, I grabbed a large curtain our landlord left in the house, climbed up on the counter and waited for the bird to come closer. Meanwhile, the bird squinched down below the window frame making it almost impossible to catch him with fumbling curtain-hands. Almost. I reached in and could feel his tiny quivering body -- surprisingly frail -- between my fingers. Captured.
I've never before held a bird, let alone a wild one. Never before have I felt a living creature leave my hands and instead of falling to the ground -- as I half expected -- take flight.
It was exhilarating.
Today, though, no more birds. Today, instead, the house is full of butterflies. Black and orange, about an inch and a half in diameter, they sit on the windows and kitchen table. They land on our hands, slowly flap their wings.
Soon they'll be gone, but my short experience in this country house has shown me that something else will soon take its place. We've been through frogs, birds, horses, grasshoppers, butterflies and bright green beetles as large as sucking candies.
What will tomorrow bring?
