Aug 13 2009
A Bird’s Last Song….
Sitting on my deck in the morning with a cup of coffee is primo time for me. With the rainy weather this season, these times have been rare indeed…in fact the last few days, even though the mornings were clear, I haven’t made the attempt to sit out there. Today was different, I’m not sure why, it was just one of those days where my inner voice was loud, saying…”let’s sit outside…it’s a really nice morning. Let’s sit outside; it really doesn’t matter what time it is. Whatever needs to get done today will get done, we assure you, it will still get done even if you take this time to just sit outside”…And so I listened and sat outside.
My wooden deck features a comfy chair and table set and about ten feet away attached to the rail is the bird feeder. Just beyond the feeder is a small sapling tree that the birds can use to hop back and forth as they help themselves to the food. Watching all the different types of birds come by for their morning meal is a cherished moment…one that sometimes conflicts with my desire to sip from my coffee cup. If I lift my cup to drink, the birds take flight. And while they come back, it always feels like the moment has been spoiled somehow. Was that sip of java worth the disturbance of my viewing pleasure!
But today was different. I knew this again when I glanced up in the sapling and saw a lone brown sparrow sitting on a branch. I’d lift my cup, the others would take flight. This little brown bird just sat. It was puffed up like birds do when they are defending against the cold…it wasn’t cold. I wondered, “Do female birds look like tennis balls when they’re ready to lay eggs”…I had no idea. The phone ringing broke my contemplation of pregnant birds and I ran inside to answer. As I was talking, I looked out the yurt window to see that my little brown friend had hopped onto the wooden deck railing. I could see clearly now just how puffed up it was, so poufy that I couldn’t see its feet…is there such a thing as bird obesity? Had this visitor been to the feeder one too many times? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bird with a body like that.
As I’m talking on the phone, I look out and see my friend has hopped onto the deck…still just sitting there. I knew this was not right. The others flitted around, would get spooked and take flight…this little brown puff just sat. I was talking with Chris and she said…”send it Reiki”.
I broke off my conversation, walked outside and crept slowly closer and closer to the sparrow. It had its eyes closed like it was sleeping and seemed to be breathing heavily. Finally, close enough to touch it I began to lightly stroke its head and back…the brown puff made a few attempts to peck then seemed to just relax and enjoy my touch. I knew it was really sick. Did it fly into a window somewhere and get dazed? Was it a migrating bird who got exhausted on its journey? I picked it up, wings fluttering and hopping a bit, I didn’t think anything was broken, but it definitely wasn’t well.
I gently put the bird down, went back inside to grab a small basket and a hand towel to pad inside. I retrieved my small friend, placing it in the basket. At first it hopped onto the edge, then back onto the deck…then it quit trying and stayed inside…I think it realized it had found a safe haven. I continued to send the creature Reiki, not knowing what else I could do. I put seeds in the basket thinking it might eat. It wouldn’t. I got an eye dropper and put water in its beak thinking it might drink. it would not. I sensed the bird’s distress as it started fluttering its wings to no avail as it didn’t have the strength to even keep itself upright. My last ditch effort was only a thought of comfort. I gently picked it up out of the basket, held it in the palm of my hand and stroked it on its little chest. I could feel the bird’s fragile rib bones. Then almost as quickly as a wing’s flutter, it closed its eyes and went perfectly still in my hand. I looked at the small bird and wonderment came over me…the body was perfect in size and shape. It no longer looked puffed and bloated. It was beautiful and at peace. Had he/she come to die? Was it my role within this Universe to help one of its creatures transition in peace? I don’t need to know the answers to those questions…but one thing I do know for sure…there would never have been questions at all if I had started my day and not listened to my inner voice telling me “let’s just sit outside today?”
Jana
Stumble it!
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