Towhee dayrise
Monday June 21st 2010, 7:58 pm
Filed under: Family,Wildlife

My husband had an early-morning meeting today and headed out–but forgot something and had to come right back in to get it, all the way into the bedroom, rattling around a moment.

I figured, well, I’m awake now, and after he left I went into the family room for just a moment before heading towards my morning shower.

A sudden surprised but very soft-spoken exclamation of Well hello there!

There was a little towhee, bigger than a house finch, smaller than a dove, with its droopy wings showing that it was relaxed, and it was hopping tentatively across the carpet immediately at the foot of where my knitting perch is.

This is where you build your nests with all that string, right?

We stood there a moment and considered each other in wonderment.

Why, it’s Feederfiller! I know you!

I immediately realized I was not going for a photo.  (Camera–stage right). I was not going to take my eyes off my new friend nor throw aside the awe of the moment.

Right. So.  The slider was close by, but I didn’t want to risk having one bird fly in while trying to herd the other out and the sunflower tower was a busy spot just then. Besides, stepping between the bird and where I wanted it to head towards was a no-go.

The towhee settled the matter by hopping/skipping/jumping ever so lightly, no concerns, towards the living room, as if it were eagerly inspecting the possibilities with its realtor in tow.

Heed me.

I opened the front door about halfway. I followed my new houseguest.

It never panicked, it never scrambled, it just carefully stayed the proper distance between us.

But no, honey, I don’t want you behind the organ bench, now.

Oh, okay. It fluttered up into the skylight as I stepped away.

I was concerned: I didn’t want it to get hurt hitting its wings there. I sent up a silent prayer to its Father and mine–and immediately the little thing came down just a bit and out of there, straightened up, flew, turned in front of the kitchen and went straight on out into the waiting bright sunlight through the doorway. I stood there agape for I think half a minute, trying to take in what I had just seen.

Hours later: “Did you leave the doorway open when you came back in?” Because I had found no bird poop–no sign whatsoever of the little thing being stressed, but also meaning it hadn’t been there long, either.

“I don’t know–I might–I don’t know.”

And then I told him why I wanted to know.  I didn’t even have to tell him it had been a surprisingly beautiful experience. He totally got it.

“Oh cool!”

I love that man.

And we are minding that front door a little more carefully now.


15 Comments so far
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How lovely :-}

Comment by Diana Troldahl 06.21.10 @ 8:38 pm

I bet that towhee has a similar story to tell about the time he ended up in a strange tree with Feederfiller!

Comment by Kathy in San Jose 06.21.10 @ 10:09 pm

what a wonderful wake-up call. Pat

Comment by pat flores 06.22.10 @ 3:17 am

What a wonderful morning surprise.

Comment by Laura 06.22.10 @ 4:07 am

How cool was that!!!! It’s those little wonderments that give us those warm fuzzies. Thanks for sharing!

Comment by Joansie 06.22.10 @ 5:14 am

What a sweet post. I loved it. Thank you for brightening my morning today.

Comment by Mary 06.22.10 @ 6:13 am

You’ve made my day, not only by the visit from your guest, but your wonderment at it. That’s one lucky towhee! What a contrast to what most people’s reaction might be.
Thank you so much being a person who is happy with the “little” things in life and for sharing your adventure!
Hugs,
Carol in MA

Comment by Carol Telsey 06.22.10 @ 6:26 am

amazing — both the visit and your description “as if it were eagerly inspecting the possibilities with its realtor in tow” – heh, that’s so cool — I can just picture it in my mind — lovely

Comment by Bev 06.22.10 @ 7:07 am

What a beautiful experience! Only you could spin something so sweet out of a door left ajar…

Comment by Channon 06.22.10 @ 7:29 am

Amazing! What a fabulous start to your day. g

Comment by gMarie 06.22.10 @ 8:41 am

What more could I possibly say — cool, beautiful, gentle, wonderment — all of that and more because of a door left open.

Fun –
Which reminds me of a joke:
When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar.

Oh, well.

Comment by Don Meyer 06.22.10 @ 9:09 am

Shut the screen door! Were you raised in a barn?

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 06.22.10 @ 9:34 am

Have you been able to stop smiling since? 🙂

Talk about waking up to a whole new world, huh? hihihi

Comment by Suzanne in Montreal 06.22.10 @ 12:04 pm

Sweet!

Comment by twinsetellen 06.22.10 @ 7:00 pm

Way cooler than our wildlife experience here. Sliding glass door was open. Screen door was not. Fortunately. 2 kitties on inside of house watching what we call “smellovision”. The squirrel they were watching charged them! and bounced off the screen. and then stood there chittering at them. Raven took off like a cat out of hell(sorry, couldn’t resist) and Elvis froze. ‘if I don’t move, maybe he won’t see me…’ Hubby had to get up to chase squirrel away

Comment by Carol 06.22.10 @ 7:12 pm



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