You won’t believe me. I swear it. You will not believe what Jake and I encountered. We found this sitting on the sidewalk:
I thought it was an escaped chicken because we were just passing a house with a chicken coop.
So we’re walking and Jake and I see this big bird sitting on the sidewalk ahead of us. And the bird’s not moving. But its eyes are open and it’s watching us approach. And I’m thinking… That’s a funny looking chicken. And Jake’s thinking… I’ve never seen that before. He was fascinated but he didn’t chase it.
So the bird just sat there. Jake and I stopped a couple feet away and I realized what I was looking at, a juvenile peregrine falcon. And they are rare and endangered around here.
My heart started to pound. Never in all my life had I imagined I’d be standing next to a peregrine falcon. And that my dog would behave. If I hadn’t been so verklempt I would have thought to take a photo. Instead I started to remove my sweatshirt, preparing to wrap the bird and get him up off the ground so two cats, who had also noticed, wouldn’t injure him. But I thought better of that. Falcons do have dangerous talons. I let Jake scare off the cats. I did get my phone out of my back pocket, but instead of taking a photo, I called the police. The police were very nice and said they’d send out Animal Control right away.
So Jake and I sat down next to the bird to wait and watch. I had to resist my baser urges. I wanted to reach out and touch the falcon with every fiber in my being. That would be so unfair. He was obviously stunned and my touch would only add insult to injury.
So we waited. After five minutes or so he rose up on his feet and gathered himself. He didn’t seem frightened in the least. He gave us a discerning look, studied us for a time. He seemed to realize we meant him no harm, nevertheless, he fluttered to the top of the nearby fence and stood there for several minutes. Then he fluttered into the closest tree, a maple, and managed to reach a branch about six feet off the ground. He sat there for a long time, but at last he made his way higher into the maple, fluttering from branch to branch. By the time Animal Control arrived twenty minutes later, the falcon had managed to make it halfway to the top of a neighboring redwood tree.
The Animal Control officer and I walked around to the front of the house, theorizing about what must have happened. The front of the house had a large set of extremely reflective windows. The reflection was of trees, not the interior of a house. We both bet the falcon hit a window, was stunned, but regained his wits and would be all right. The officer said he’d call the local raptor rescue organization anyway.
So, Jake and Julia get up close and personal with a peregrine. Yay! Now I want one of my own…
Oscar, can I have a peregrine?
Wow. Good for Jake.
We have a window I used to have to tape an outline of a hawk to - the birds got too close, and ran into the glass. Just that window - the rest of ours are apparently not bird magnets.
We used to sit by that window to homeschool - and heard a thump once or twice (which is why the bird silhouette), and it was a lovely lesson.
Name that one after you - you deserve it.
I hope the falcon is fine, Alicia. Don’t like it when birds hit windows.
Wow, go Jake. What a good boy.
We have a window that the birds hit all the time. Most of the time they shake it off and move on, but sometimes…
What a lovely experience for you!
What a lovely experience! I am fascinated by birds. There is so much we don’t know. And to see a rare one, and how precious Jake is, respectful. Don’t you just love that about animals?
Our living room window attracts birds, but none as pretty as a Peregrine. I’m glad he’s okay.
Ooh, put a birdy thingy on your window, Stephanie. I hate finding poor birds that have hit the window. I’m glad the peregrine is okay too. Walked by today to make sure.
Well, Diana, sometimes Jake is perfect and sometimes he’s a devil. When it counts he tends to be perfect. I do love birds! Especially raptors.
Definitely an interesting experience, Anny.
I know, it’s so sad, Amber. Hate it when a bird hits the window.
Wow, you are so blessed. You had an encounter of the highest kind. I don’t know if I’d have been as strong as you about resisting touching it. (Almost all the scars I have from childhood are a result of my inability to keep my hands to myself…)
Good boy, Jake!
We are blessed, Jaye. Never imagined I’d sit next to a raptor. I was very tempted to touch it. I’ve always said in my next life I’ll be a big old red-tailed hawk. For sure.
If there’s a weirdness nearby you are right on it. I think you may attract weird. That is very cool.
Well, Steph, my mom has always said - if an animal needs something it will find me.
You have the neatest experiences. Maybe in an earlier life you were a bird of some sort.
Roberta - next life!
What a beautiful bird! I’m glad that you and Jake looked out for it. I would’ve done the same.
Absolutely, Danielle! I felt blessed to be so close. Thanks for stopping by!