Batman & Robin
No, this isn't about a comic book
It's also not about a TV show.
It also has little to do with any Wuhan virus source.
The truth is, that some people refer to me as Batman.
No, not because I wear a black cape.
It has a lot more to do with, that I have batted leadoff on lots of baseball & softball teams.
I often have the highest batting average on my teams.
Thus, some people call me batman. OK, enough on the reason for that part of the blog title.
In reality this blog has more to do with Robin.
And it's not because a previous girlfriend's name is Robin, even though that's true.
It has to do with a current house 'guest'.
On my front door porch light a robin has built a nest.
She very tolerant of me going in & out of the house.
When I open the front door, she flies to a nearbry small tree and gives me a "chirp chirp".
It's not an aggressive nor angry expression. It's more like a "hello".
She's never flown at me, or made any angry, nor aggressive moves.
It's like she understands, that we share this property.
There was one across the street at my neighbor's house last year, that used to attack the couple who live there and their dog. Since they knocked that nest down, mine might even be the same bird.
Whenever I go in or out of the house, I talk low and gentle to her.
i.e. "Hello moma bird. How are you today ?"
When I do, she stops chirping and tilts her head, as if she is listening and trying to understand what I'm saying. If I walk to my car in the driveway, she will often follow and then fly into a tree near the car and chirp.
If I come back home later, she is often in the nest and we look eye to eye to each other, sometimes for a minute or so, perhaps 2 feet from each other and she doesn't fly at all until I open the front door. That happened again moments ago.
I went out today to check out the tulips & hyacinths I planted (they are doing great) and to inspect the veggies I planted. Spinach, radishes and leaf lettuce were all up last week. Today I noticed that scallions are now coming up.
For the first time, I also saw papa robin today. He flew into a tall tree and just watched me go into the house. Looking in the direction of the nest, while she was in the short tree more nearby me,
No chirping from him. I'm guessing if I made a move towards the nest, I might have been attacked by him.
The enforcer robin. I wouldn't be right to attack Batman.
(Not my photo)
Comments (19)
I'm not sure how many people have seen robin eggs.
But, they are a vibrant blue.
(again, not my photo)
(not my photo)
I always talk to animals from the point of view that they understand every word I say. (even animals that are not domesticated and considered unlikely to comprehend any type of rational converse, birds mostly but not just them) Whether they can or do or not I'll never know but some strange things have occurred over the years that indicate some anyway are completely aware of the personal interaction.
Some time ago every morning I would ride my bike up a stretch of road that was patrolled by a very territorial Magpie. For the best part of a week he swooped me, always coming in from behind with the sun behind him. Well. I tried a number of things; stopping short when I saw him coming; waiting until I saw his shadow, then quickly turning around to shock him, waving a stick over my head, Then one day I tried something different.
I stopped my bike and watched him mid swoop. He instantly changed course and perched in a nearby tree just watching me. While looking directly at him I said "Hello darling, what are you doing? I haven't hurt you and I do not intend to hurt you. Why do you want to hurt me?"
We continued to look at each other for a few moments longer and then I got on my bike and continued my ride.
He never swooped me again.
Of course you could say coincidence but a week or so later, at a different location more than a km from that Magpies' territory another Magpie swooped me. I pretty much said the same thing to him and he also never swooped me again.
But, I think the animals appreciate the tone of voice, rather than the actual words stated. If you yell, "I THINK YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL !" in an angry tone,
the magpie might not treat you as well, as saying in a gentle voice, "I'm going to kill you. Yes, I am. Then, I'm going to eat you."
In both case I spoke calmly and rationally, not soothingly and reassuringly, but as if I was speaking an another human being.
In contrast, soon after I moved into this house I began to be swooped by a Butcher bird every time I walked outside. One day after swooping me it perched in the tree down by the back fence. It was perhaps 4 or 5 mts away from where I was standing. I picked up a small piece of gum tree bark and threw it in the birds direction hoping to hit the branch near where it was perched. I missed the branch but I did connect with its tail feathers under the branch. If a bird can be said to change its expression that is what it did. It, however, did not fly off but rather stood its ground.
I said to it calmly and menacingly, not loudly at all, "I can get you! Swoop me again and I'll mess you up."
He never swooped me again. Today I have an extended family of Butcher birds that visit me on a semi regular basis in what seems like a purely social interaction.
But get more comfortable, when you don't attack them, but acknowledge them.
Maybe it reassures them not to be concerned with you and yet fosters respect.
both instances you relayed imply some sort of psychological disorder
Sorry if there was any confusion. It was not my intent or desire to impose any sort of double meaning to my words.
Just cant recall if they are speckled or not.
La - go south for the winter ?
Lu - I believe they are speckled, but there's different species of weaver finches, that
are different colors. Perhaps they also have different colored eggs.
The 2nd best pitcher in the 80's [ according to S I
In the A L....would probably have been J Morris...now that my noodle has rested a spell...
Update...eYe just saw Joe Biden on TV !
This brings my total TV time for 2020 to
3 min. 22 seconds.... Danger ! Frank Robinson.