Wednesday 17 June 2015

It's all about birds

"No, it's not you. It's me. That's the way I am. It's just not my scene."

Not far from where we live, about two hours' drive or so, there is a bird sanctuary. A place designated where birds can live in peace undisturbed and that's the way I like it. However, I was persuaded against my better nature that it would make a nice day out.

"It'll be fun ... They have many birds there we can watch with binoculars. And there are some in cages. Come on ... Drive us there!"

"What? Drive for two hours just to see some birds? The only birds I like to see are the frozen ones in the supermarket!"

Well, it was just as I predicted. A huge area of countryside and semi-forest where we had to walk, and walk, and walk, and every so often stop and listen to different sounds in the trees and try to identify which bird it is. Or search the various branches with binoculars to discover where they were hiding or nesting.

To be honest, I can't tell the difference between a sparrow and an eagle and could not care less. As long as they live in this nature reserve and I live in mine that's all that matters. How would we like it if these birds came to visit our towns and cities to gawp at us getting on with our business? Remember that film by Hitchcock? Even his name was invaded by a bird!

This sanctuary also had an area where a number of birds were kept safe in large cages whilst others were perched on perches and tied by chains to stop their escape. Hundreds and hundreds they were, or so it seemed, all kept together according to species.
"Yes ... I have seen all the owls! They are all the same to me. I realise they are all different sizes and have different coloured plumage; but does it really matter? They are owls and do what owls do. They sit there on their perch looking at you passing by.

"Yes ... yes ... I have also seen all the hawks. They too all look the same apart from size and a small variation in the colour of their plumage. And very excited I was identifying where they originate from; although I noticed none are destined for our oven!

"And I did notice that their beaks, being birds of prey, (or is it pray?), are different looking from a sparrow's beak or that of a pelican."

[NOTE: Yes - there were even pelicans and ostriches there, and penguins too!] 

"Why can't we go to the restaurant for a rest and something to eat? Do they have a KFC here?"

Instead, I was frogmarched to the souvenir shop. Well, at least I didn't waddle like a duck or hop like a sparrow or blackbird!

You've guessed it. The souvenir shop was full of ... souvenirs of birds. There were pictures of birds, and posters of birds, and jigsaw puzzles of birds, and key rings, and statues, and postcards, and pencils and pens and a million other things I never imagined existed in the same sentence as birds. I mean ... whoever wants a toilet roll holder with a picture of a swan on it? Whose idea was it to juxtapose the two together? What is the missing link which I am missing here?

"And no ... we do not want that lovely poster of an owl. What will we do with it? Hang it in the bedroom? I would have nightmares if I had those round eyes staring at me as I fell asleep. He looks as if he is ready to attack his prey ... namely me!!!"

Anyway, that was our day at the nature reserve which is only about two hours' drive from where we live and not far enough as far as I am concerned.

We returned home with a car load of souvenirs ... and they did not have a KFC there either!

10 comments:

  1. Laughing, Victor. I would bet you actually enjoyed every minute..walking and thinking over how to make a comedic post from the outing!

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    1. That's true, Lulu. Ideas come to me out of many situations. It's a massive bird reserve with really lots of walking. I don't mind it being there; but why do we have to visit it?

      God bless.

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  2. Your mind ... *lol* ... my husband and I are amateur bird watchers. I can relate how nature must be boring to some. Look at the bright side, at least there where no bees searching for your bottom at an inopportune time. ~:)

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    1. You've reminded me Sparky. There WERE plenty of flying insects too. Midges, mosquitoes, bees ... even elephants.

      God bless you and yours.

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  3. "Do they have a KFC here?"

    Hahaha, that really made me laugh. Where I live, one of the boroughs of New York City called Staten Island, we have quite a bit of dedicated woodlands and wet lands for birds. We're kind of a stop for many types of birds along the east coast of the US. A couple of months ago a pair of eagles were spotted, and I once had a red-tailed hawk fly right by my face early one morning while I was walking the dog. We even have wild turkeys around, which are a nuisance for the residents where they congregate. Birds are cool to have around.

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    1. I agree Manny. Birds are cool to have around. We get a few in our garden at home although I can't name any of them. It's just that having to drive two hours to see birds in a reserve when there's a game of football on TV ... Well, what would you have done?

      God bless.

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    2. Watched the football. :)

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    3. There you are, Manny. Good decision.

      God bless you and yours.

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  4. Two House Finches have moved into our home...at our front door. They have built their nest...with several eggs that have hatched. We do not use our front door so as not to disturb the little baby birds...I can empathize with your day at the bird sanctuary. It all happened so very fast, before I knew it, they had established their home...imposing on ours.

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    1. Well Hand-Maid, at least your house finches were considerate enough to build their nest near you; saving you a two hours drive somewhere remote, a long walk throughout the reserve, spending money on souvenirs in the souvenir shop, and no KFC restaurant either.

      God bless you and your family; and the finches too.

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