Waxwings
A few days ago I heard the... metallic trill? purr? not-quite-musical chime? that I recognized from seeing a barberry bush full of cedar waxwings last fall, and it sounded very close to me where I was working at the compost bins; I found a pair of spotted-breasted juveniles (I presume) in a box elder just above my head level, with the sounds of them coming from all around besides. That was the only close look I got but I heard them several times.
Today (or yesterday, depending when I post) in the Spruce Hill pass (500 feet higher, a few miles toward the county seat where I work) a small bird dipped & swerved in front of me. Though I think I had already let off the gas, it hit a glancing blow on the curved outside corner of my windshield. In the rear view mirror I saw it fall onto the paved shoulder. I didn't think I could do any good for it, but remembering how long it would haunt me that I hadn't looked at the consequences, I turned around and went back. As I approached I could see it was a waxwing with its sides heaving. It looked as if globules of dark blood, or internal organs, were oozing out of its beak, but they turned out to be berries - so big it looked as if it had been flying with its mouth open. I couldn't resist picking it up and looking at it quickly; it seemed smaller than I expect for a waxwing, but I didn't notice a spotted breast in that glance. However it didn't have any obvious injuries. I gave it some reiki, though i don't have a feel for it, or just thought good thoughts, and put the bird down on bare ground in the shade of a bush instead of the direct sun on the dark pavement.
In the afternoon I stopped to look for it, and I think I found the same bush, but I couldn't find it which I take as a good sign. If it was recycled by a predator, that's a more meaningful death than dehydration on the roadway or being squashed by another vehicle pulling onto the shoulder.
Today (or yesterday, depending when I post) in the Spruce Hill pass (500 feet higher, a few miles toward the county seat where I work) a small bird dipped & swerved in front of me. Though I think I had already let off the gas, it hit a glancing blow on the curved outside corner of my windshield. In the rear view mirror I saw it fall onto the paved shoulder. I didn't think I could do any good for it, but remembering how long it would haunt me that I hadn't looked at the consequences, I turned around and went back. As I approached I could see it was a waxwing with its sides heaving. It looked as if globules of dark blood, or internal organs, were oozing out of its beak, but they turned out to be berries - so big it looked as if it had been flying with its mouth open. I couldn't resist picking it up and looking at it quickly; it seemed smaller than I expect for a waxwing, but I didn't notice a spotted breast in that glance. However it didn't have any obvious injuries. I gave it some reiki, though i don't have a feel for it, or just thought good thoughts, and put the bird down on bare ground in the shade of a bush instead of the direct sun on the dark pavement.
In the afternoon I stopped to look for it, and I think I found the same bush, but I couldn't find it which I take as a good sign. If it was recycled by a predator, that's a more meaningful death than dehydration on the roadway or being squashed by another vehicle pulling onto the shoulder.