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Monday, November 7, 2016

An odd partnership---I think.




I am not one to ordinarily pick on any specific bird species. Generally, I like them all for any number of reasons, including how some taste on my plate. While some folks complain of the noble Canada Goose, and even refer to them as Sky Carp, they are magnificent in grace and beauty---even if they do tend to leave small traces of their beings on shorelines and lawns.

Juncos are a bird of winter, it seems, and swarm feeders and the ground under them, busily foraging for seeds. They might be seen as flying mice, but with a cleaner demeanor. The Oregon Junco has a snappy coat, a dark covering of tiny feathers all rather formal if not regal. They are almost impossible to not like.

About the time Juncos arrive, or at least arrive in winter numbers, it is also time to look after winter tasks like making sure all the windows are tightened up, the bulbs are dug, the potatoes comfortable in the basement and the heating systems are up and running. Most of the tasks are referred to as winterization and that does include making sure the bird feeders are ready for the flights of arriving birds like the Juncos.


In the process of performing these efforts it was found by my renters that their furnace was not working, simply would not come on. Not wanting them to freeze off in the coming season, and wanting to avoid a small lawsuit, I did the usual examination thinking it was a loose wire or a simple abnormality, but no. In frustration, I called Mike and started making the usual inquiry, asking him why am I such a loser (that is what the little light on the furnace said) and he tried to lead me through a process of simple deduction to find the problem as opposed to just running over here and charging me a cool $100 . I listened and then realized it is hard for me to even kneel down, so I gave up and invited him over for what I know will be some nonsensically simple repair.

I'm sure that on the other end of the phone he was grinning and shaking his head saying, “These Wright brothers are basket cases, cleaver maybe, but slow.”

He showed up in short order, still rather amused, probably knowing he had told me how to fix it but due to situations out of his control, me, he would need to save the day. Down in the basement he went through the usual rapid, very linear process with his various electrical testers and deduced the pressure detector on the exhaust fan was not tripping, meaning the exhaust pipe was compromised----pretty much what he told me from the comfort of his office.

He then removed the exhaust pipe from the furnace and looked inside. With a sly grin, he looked over at me and gave a subtle, but meaningful, gesture for me to take a look. There at the entrance of the pipe were the remains of a small gray bird, a bird that was well dried, very dead as in deceased, and obviously blocking the vent.

Mike makes a remark about the value of Ornithology and the unfortunate habits of some birds all the while cleaning out the vent and reassembling the furnace. He is amused by it all and makes note of other similar experiences he has had including finding a massive paper wasp's nest in a vent.

Me, I was having other thoughts including thinking he has an arrangement with birds and wasps to work for him on the side to generate work and thus stimulate the economy even if it costs them their lives.

I also saw dollar bills flying out the window, or was it out the vents.

I asked, “What the hell is this Junco doing in this vent?” Mike, in his deep radio voice, and under a small concealed smile said , “Damned if know, obstructions just happen.” He surely would not admit that he has either trained them or paid them in seeds to obstruct the vents of reasonable humans, ( heating vents).

My mind was reeling with questions for which Mike offered no solutions, but he was clearly entertained by the unfolded events. I then saw it as a Darwinian mistake because the bird in it's wisdom probably wanted to make a statement about my polluting the atmosphere with CO2 and thus plugged the vent. However, in the small bird's act of defiance, he lost his life (I assumed it was a he) and thus would not be able to breed and make more defiant Juncos, who in turn may have had a profound affect on bad human behavior.

Briefly, I was concerned because if other animals got the drift of this act they might take it to another level, like having chipmunks crawl up my exhaust pipe of our VW. Worse yet, Pelicans might drop down stacks on power plants and or even in a fit of desperation, shove a nasty raccoon up the discharge pipe of the sewer plant. Well, maybe I am over reacting, or racked with guilt when in fact, Mike really was in league with the juncos.

Mike treated me well and I forgave the Juncos. I will continue to feed birds---- but will maintain a watchful, but thankful eye on both.









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