Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Bird Diplomacy

For the last few weeks, I have been watching a particular bird- a Robin- fight with himself. Over and over, I watch this bird fling himself into the window reflection- although not very hard- bounce off, flutter a way briefly, only to go for it again.

And again. And again.

I asked Jake to make a scary picture. He did.

The bird went to the other window.

I asked Jake to make two more.



Doesn’t matter. The bird still sits in the crook of the Japanese maple tree, takes aim, and boom.

I have a few observations about this bird. For one, the bird is stubborn. It refuses to “lose” to a superior foe. After about an hour of bouncing, he leaves for the day. Does he learn? Nope. The very next day, he comes back, and tries again.

Clearly, he is right. He will win this battle, a battle he is fighting the same way over and over again. It’s arrogant and without thought or examination.

The bird has no sense of its pattern and how it might actually bring danger to it. Its repeated attempts at being right have left behind oily stains on the windows not to mention a pile of bird poop under the maple tree. It is easy prey.

I have contemplated a slingshot. The PETA people can feel free to complain but the pile of poop is actually on my new deck and I’m sorry, a plain ol’ robin isn’t going to win over a brand new deck.

The oblivious disregard for it’s own safety because it is going to get that bird one-way or another, is probably linked to natural selection. You know the female robins are all saying, That dumb bastard is still slamming into that window.

We’re over here waiting to have some babies and he’s just doing the same damn stupid thing, over and over again.

Not to mention Jake’s pictures are fairly fierce.

It’s almost 3PM. Like clockwork, he’s back.

I’ve had more than one human male see the behavior and say, well, anything to get laid.

That’s not it. Not at all. It’s about stubborn arrogance. It’s about the inability to see past itself or to learn from repeated failure. It’s about hopeless dreams of conquest.

Reminds me of a lot of men I know.

It also makes me think of the Iraq war and the ridiculous rhetoric that is spoken about “winning” war that cannot be won and “stabilizing” a region that has been unstable since the dawn of time.

Just as fruitless and pointless as the bird that just did his first daily attack on the window.

Only the cost is so much higher.

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11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

And that is why "Hope" and "Change" come in the form of a female candidate for the Presidency.

3:29 PM  
Blogger Maria said...

I feel that, seeing as I had my exam in Middle Eastern history today, it is my duty to point out to you that the Middle East has not been more violent or unstable than most other parts of the world since the dawn of time. Actually, the Middle East has had long periods of peace and prosperity, both of whom went out the window after WWI, when Europe started sticking its nose in where it didn't belong.

Still, I see the point you are making, and I wholeheartedly agree.

(And pardon the spelling and grammar errors, English is not my first language).

4:44 PM  
Blogger Fortune Cookies said...

I've heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again, expecting different results. That being said, our current administration is certifiable!

5:31 PM  
Blogger Sue J said...

It’s about hopeless dreams of conquest.

Unfortunately, that's been the history of mankind. Even though throughout history someone has always been putting up the "scary pictures" to make the generals understand.

8:18 PM  
Blogger Sara said...

well... that's why morgan is right.

hope and change will come in the form of a woman.

at least in my humble opinion.

8:22 PM  
Blogger Sara said...

and Maria, I guess since the middle east is the 'cradle' of all civilization, it has the longest history of war.

not because it's any more prone, just because it's been around the longest.

sorry for the misunderstanding.

8:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hope you are not including me in those stubborn men you know!

when i lived in cape neddick, one summer we had a sparrow that did the same thing. everyday it would attack itself by flying into one of our windows. bloody beak marks and feathers everywhere!

and i agree, the world would be a better place if we had more women rulers.

5:35 AM  
Blogger Jeffrey said...

Do not confuse persistence with insanity. Open the window.

12:03 PM  
Blogger Rev. Bob said...

"Reminds me of a lot of men I know. "

And at least one woman. But damn, I admire that in her. Declared dead by every pundit in the corporate media since December, she keeps on going.

Hillary isn't fighting a 100 years war, and a chorus of commentators who know perfectly well what it says on the top left corners of their paychecks don't add up to actual, real-world defeat.

When the process plays out, as it will in a matter of days, I'll go with the results and when someone says, "Hurry up please, it's time" I'll go on, and keep pushing, if not for what I know deep in my heart is right, then against what I know deep in my heart is wrong.

Even if she doesn't go gracefully, I'll never stop admiring her.

Hugs to Beanie,

8:16 AM  
Blogger Sara said...

Jeff, only a man would consider it persistence...

opening the window doesn't do anything either.

9:53 AM  
Blogger Shannon said...

well it's nice that it's just not my window this is happening to.

This little yellow bird has been doing it all day, she has a friend with her, not sure if it's both of them (they look the same)

Kind of cute at first now just annoying!

4:30 PM  

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