For the birds
We seem to have another addition to the family.
Temporary or permanent remains to be seen.
He first arrived yesterday afternoon and my first encounter was the sight of him standing immediately outside the glass door to the garden. He was staring in and studying me [and Penny] with great interest. After a while he buggered off but returned after a few minutes and continued his staring.
After he had strutted off I went out to see what was going on. There was no sign of him so I searched and found him standing on a mound of rubbish against the wall and under the bird table. He gave me a dirty look and strutted to the edge of the terrace whereupon he flapped his wings and landed on the grass. It wasn’t a great landing and he toppled onto his back in a rather undignified pose. I went over and tipped him upright. He gave me a hard stare and walked off down the garden. It was pissing rain so I left him to it.
At around midnight I thought I’d take a look around. I thought he’d gone, but there he was, standing on the little pile of rubbish with his head tucked under his wing, fast asleep. I let him sleep.
Not knowing quite what to do I decided to let nature take its course. By morning he would either be gone or dead.
This morning I let Penny out. She did her usual scan of her territory from the top step. The bird was a couple of feet away on the grass. Penny gave him half a glance and then ignored him. He just wandered off down the garden.
He has been wandering around all day. He seems to enjoy the estate though every now and then he returns to his pile of rubbish for a feed of the seeds that have been scattered off the bird table. Frankly, he seems very happy here with no signs that he’s in any hurry to leave. Sitting here, I see him every now and then as he wanders past the door.
I have no idea what’s going on. He’s lively enough and has no problem stretching the legs. Flying seems to be a bit of a problem though but there is no sign of any injury to his wings.
To be honest, I’m quite happy to let sleeping Rooks lie.
Could be a bit of a wing problem and he just needs a few days to heal up.
My book tells me that rooks are very sociable birds.
And very intelligent. And will eat anything.
Looks like you and she/he (They are intelligent enough not to mess about with genders.) are a good match.
Cultivate a friendship and maybe you will be able to wander down to The Village with Penny by your leg and Lenore* on your shoulder.
Maybe acquire a limp and an old wooden crutch.
The Boston tourists will love it, and you will have become a “character” graciously accepting pints and wee drams in return for muttering “Nevermore”, even when not asked if you will ever trust a politician.
*I know it’s not a raven, but them Bostonites will not know.
I remember seeing a video somewhere where someone was regularly being visited by a raven. They were knowledgeable enough to try and teach the raven to say ‘never more’, but stupid enough to do it by continually repeating the phrase “Say, never more” to it!!?
Sadly I have to announce the sad news that Charlie didn’t make it through the night. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge to the Great Rookery in the sky.
Funeral arrangements to be published in the local papers.