The Lighter Side of Catastrophe, cont.

I’m not so sure if this is so much funny as it is curious or creepy. The day after our tornado, the birds were acting very strangely, especially the starlings. They stood on the squirrel shield of the feeder or on the grass beneath it. They tilted their heads to the side and opened their beaks, and froze, remaining like that for minutes at a time. The starlings eyes were also a brighter white than I’d ever seen, especially against their shiny blue-black heads. (Try as I might, I can't find the photos I took of them! You'll just have to believe my words.)

Probable explanation for their behavior/look: The weeks and days up to the storm, the temperature had been in the 30’s at night and 50’s during the day. The day after, it was 90 degrees. I’m thinking their peculiar action was merely because they were suddenly hot. Although, personifying them, perhaps they were in grief of their nests, chicks, and friends who didn’t make it through the storm. (Okay, NOW who’s being creepy?)

Michigan Snowbird Resident

Gone south for the winter.

A Bird Fell Out of the Tree!

When a teen friend of mine was even younger, she went up north (northern Michigan, that is) to a cottage. She stood by the lake when suddenly she shouted out, "Oh, no! That bird just fell out of the tree!" (and into the lake). A little later, she said, "Oh, no! It fell out of the tree AGAIN."

The bird was a kingfisher, just doing what kingfishers do -- fishing.