Hope's Adolescence

This is an update on the baby bird of whom I blogged a few times here and here. Since then, a few people have asked me, how is Hope? This is a quick update on the antics of this little bird.

For those who haven't seen the prior posts, I was one of a handful of people in our apartment community who helped raise a baby bird that had fallen from it's nest this past spring. The community kids who spear-headed the mission named the bird "Hope." Once the bird became a juvenile, it was let go to live outdoors, like the other birds of it's kind. Unfortunately, because it associated with humans, it believes humans are part of it's family.

The whole community (181 apartments) had given their hearts to this little bird. It became our community mascot and we all watched over it. Hope would join us at the community pool, where she would sit on shoulders, playing with ear-rings and necklaces, or perch on someone's head to ride as they did laps back and forth across the pool. She would even rest on shoulders, arms and other body parts just below the water's surface to use the swimming pool as her personal bird bath.

Then one day, news came from across the street. Hope had been sighted at the senior housing complex. Whenever someone would be wheeled outside to enjoy a bit of sun, Hope would flutter in to sit on their shoulder and play with their ear-rings or necklace. It appears our little bird certainly had quite a fettish for shiny stuff. She went ga-ga over shiny wheelchair wheels!

At first the staff over there thought Hope was sick, as wild birds do not normally perch calmly on people's shoulders. But news of our community's "pet bird" had spread over there too, so the senior complex welcomed Hope with open arms, and birdseed! By August, Hope was no longer seen in our complex, but lived full time across the street. This mama bird felt like she was abandoned. Typical teenager! But in hindsight, she now brings great joy to many who also feel abandoned... the seniors. If she brings them a ray of sunshine, why should I begrudge her that?

She's also expanded her range further. A short distance from the senior center is our local supermarket, which has some outdoor tables and chairs. While I haven't seen her there yet, many have reported that Hope spends part of her days there, singing for her crumbs as she goes from table-to-table mooching off those seated there, especially the lunch crowd. I'm not so sure this mama bird approves of mooching, but sometimes those unruly teenagers are hard to control.

One of the employees of the supermarket (who wasn't too keen on the "tips" Hope left behind on the tables) decided it best to relocate this over-friendly feather-brain. Hope was taken to a local farm and let loose where she would be safe and find her own kind. She was back at the tables the next day, several miles from that farm. She knew where home was.

Today was a nice chilly morning, leaves have already started to turn in this part of New England. Birds from Canada have already been spied on their journey south; soon we'll be inundated with geese. Will Hope migrate too? Will my baby bird know where to go and how to get there? Or will Hope try to weather the cold, bitter New England winters? All I know is if Hope decides to stay, there are several bird houses that have been built over the summer in preparation of sharing our winter too. She will be well-loved and taken care of. Do you think she'll want marshmallows with her hot chocolate?

~ ESA

Images: Mine, except for the last, of which source is unknown.