Realizing Provision

An aside from anything especially meaningful I may say in this space…

Here in Waterloo Region, we are at the latter end of the peak of mating season for red-winged blackbirds, and I am duly terrified.

Up until last summer, I had the mindset that birds were afraid of me. Therefore, birds did not need to be feared. It appeared to be true—birds were afraid of me and flew away at the appropriate time when I approached them (excluding, of course, large birds such as Canadian geese who believe they own all Ontario parks and most city streets, too). That is, birds were afraid of me. . . until last summer. See condition 2 about walking in the orchard at the end of a post from last summer.*

This summer, I was wary when I walked in the orchard. I kept my eyes on a scolding red-winged blackbird as I passed its territory, cranking my head around as I passed to ensure that it would not attack from behind.

It did not.

I am probably getting into my head, I told myself. I probably don’t have to freak out about these birds coming at me. But to be on the safe side, I decided that my walks should be along the road and not in the orchard.

I have been trying to walk along Apple Grove Road like a normal human adult who is not afraid of birds. It is not working. Last night, there were red-winged blackbirds on telephone wires that scolded angrily and lingered in the air above my head for an uncomfortably long time when I got close.  It’s ok, Kerra. Even if they would come at you, it would be a little peck on your head that you would recover from. My fear was not dissuaded by my trying to be logical. If the neighbours were looking out their window toward Apple Grove Road at the right time last night, they would have seen me flailing my arms at the air, trying to prevent birds swooping at my head. If they think I am crazy, I will plead guilty.

I took a different route today. But, alas, there were more birds. I tried to relax. A red-winged blackbird followed me for a short time before deciding I was not a threat. I managed to keep my hands at my sides. There was still a lingering fear of birds in my mind, however.

I know I had lingering fear because, later on in the walk, a circling vulture made me terribly uncomfortable and even had me saying aloud, albeit quietly, “I am not prey!”

Someday, perhaps I will grow up and take peaceful walks without a thought of bird attacks. But for now, if you see me walking with an umbrella on sunny days in July, you will know that I am “being ware” of the small but mighty red-winged blackbirds.

*Condition 2: The walk may be harder than writing if you are afraid of getting attacked by a red-winged blackbird. It makes the walk significantly less enjoyable. On several of my walks this past week, I became suspicious that a red-winged blackbird was flying rather low over my head every time I walked near him. Tonight, there was no question in my mind that he was coming straight for my head before I screamed and wildly flapped my arms. When I returned home, I researched whether it is normal for these birds to fly at your head. I discovered that, indeed, it is common for these birds to attack people’s heads during breeding season if they feel that their babies are threatened. The orchard keeps teaching me new things.